According to officials, the leopard entered the Bhayandar East locality during the day, moving through narrow lanes and residential pockets packed with homes and daily activity. In the process, the animal attacked and injured three people, who were later taken for medical treatment. Their condition has not been described as life-threatening, but the incident left residents deeply shaken.
The forest department was alerted soon after the leopard was sighted. Teams were rushed to the area and a coordinated operation was launched to track and safely capture the animal. Officials said the rescue effort was challenging due to the high population density, limited open spaces, and the need to prevent further harm to both residents and the animal.
After sustained efforts, forest officials successfully tranquilised and captured the leopard, bringing the situation under control. The animal was removed from the residential zone and is expected to be relocated as per wildlife protocols.
The incident has reignited concerns over human-wildlife conflict on the outskirts of major cities like Mumbai, where expanding urban boundaries increasingly overlap with forested areas. Local residents have called for stronger preventive measures and improved monitoring to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Authorities have assured that the situation is now fully under control, but the episode has underscored the urgent need for coordinated urban planning and wildlife management to ensure public safety in rapidly growing metropolitan regions.
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