Aarey's 'Problem Leopard' That Attacked 6 Humans In A Month Has Finally Been Captured
A sub-adult leopardess that is believed to be behind the recent attacks on humans in and around the Aarey forest in Mumbai has been captured.
The leopardess, which is said to be aged around two years old was caught in one of the four trap cages installed by the Forest Department on Friday morning.
According to officials, the trapped leopard was taken away from the Aarey colony at around 7.30 am and was taken to the rescue centre at Sanjay Gandhi National Park for treatment and have been treated for minor wounds there.?
It is believed to be the same animal that had attacked at least six humans in the past month, most of them this week.
Its latest attack was reported just hours before it was found trapped inside the cage.
A 19-year-old boy identified as Rajesh Rawat a resident of Santosh Nagar, Goregaon east, was attacked by the leopardess when he returning back after dropping his friend.
Just a day before that a 65-year-old woman, identified as Nirmala R. Singh was attacked by the same big cat when she had stepped outside her house in Aarey Colony.
CCTV visuals from the house showed the leopard prowling on the plot before the woman, who was walking with help of a stick came out and sat down.
Barely had she settled and caught her breath, the leopard - crouching a couple of metres behind her - lunged at her with full force, and as she tried to stand up, he knocked her down.
As she fell on her back on the floor, the leopard continued to claw at her and attempted another attack, but luckily Singh managed to grab her walking stick, waved, jabbed and swiped it at the hungry and angry cat.
Hearing her screams for help and seeing her relatives running out, the confused leopard turned and beat a hasty retreat into the Aarey forests, and Singh was safe.
This was the fifth time since the first attack was reported on August 31, the leopard had injured a human being.
