THANE: Two leopards were caught on CCTV cameras while roaming along the main road in Yeoor, part of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, on March 6. Forest officials have estimated the leopards to be around three years and one year old respectively.
In response to the sighting, the forest department has announced plans to install awareness boards in the area to ensure public safety.
Yeoor Forest Range is known for its significant leopard population.
Yeoor, which falls within Sanjay Gandhi National Park, is home to diverse wildlife including leopards, birds, and various other animal species. However, unauthorized commercial activities such as hotels, roadside eateries, and sports turfs have increasingly encroached upon the region, leading to heightened human activity.
The main access road to Yeoor passes through Upvan and is located near an Air Force base. Around 3:30 AM on Thursday, CCTV footage captured the two leopards walking near the base. One appeared fully grown, while the other seemed younger, reinforcing forest officials’ estimates of their ages.
Since this road also serves as a key access route for local villagers, authorities have announced plans to soon install awareness boards with safety guidelines on how to respond to leopard sightings.
This is not the first such incident in the area. In 2019, a leopard cub was spotted by morning walkers in the same vicinity. In another incident, a leopard was found in the parking lot of a well-known hotel in the Vartak Nagar locality after straying from Yeoor’s forest into the city.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation, urging residents to remain cautious and follow safety advisories when traveling through the area.
