Meeting between Forest Department and Residents to Stay Safe from Leopards

Awareness session held near Sanjay Gandhi National Park after recent leopard sightings.

Residents of a housing complex near Sanjay Gandhi National Park are worried after leopards have been seen wandering close to homes. Tension rose when a leopard attacked a dog three days ago. In response, the Thane forest department held a public awareness meeting on Thursday night to guide people on how to protect themselves and their families.

The forest department reminded residents that animals from the park sometimes come into neighbourhoods while searching for food. To reduce visits by leopards, people were asked to keep grass, shrubs and open spaces around housing complexes clean and trimmed. Children should travel to and from school in groups and must not be sent out alone at night. Residents were advised to keep lights in open areas and, when going out at night, move in groups of three or four.

Forest range officer Narendra Muthe warned against trying to hunt or attack a leopard. Instead, make noise, use boxes or firecrackers to scare the animal away if needed, but do not step outside the house. Throwing stones or threatening the animal can create dangerous situations. He stressed the importance of immediately informing the forest department if a leopard is sighted. Forest officials, staff and members of the WWA social organization attended the meeting.