A fully grown male leopard was injured in a hit and run at Film City in Goregaon (east) around 2.30 am on Wednesday. Television actress Karuna Pandey, who had finished a shoot and was driving out of the main gate, first noticed the leopard sitting by the edge of the road, with bloodstains dripping from its body.
Animal activists have often raked up the issue of speeding vehicles which pose a serious threat to animals around Film City - a forest area.
Pandey, an animal lover, summoned help. The leopard is in a critical state but is stable; it is being treated at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali.
“The leopard was petrified. I called up Hitendra Mota who rescues and treats animals,” said Pandey. “I’ve seen dogs being run over at Film City and this time it’s a leopard.”
The forested area around Film City is home to leopards. Mota, who had tried to save an injured radio-collared leopard last year, said that the injured leopard could barely move. “A rescue team from the national park arrived soon after,” said Mota.
The national park’s animal keepers Mukesh More and Namdeo Jirve used a snare to hold the leopard while wildlife veterinarian Dr Vinaya Jangale administered a tranquiliser shot.
Dr Jangale, who was leading the rescue team, said that initially they thought the leopard’s backbone was broken. “It has fractured the left hind limb at the hip and has bruises all over its body,” Jangale told Mumbai Mirror.
On Wednesday, the leopard was administered saline drips and given antibiotics.
Field director for Sanjay Gandhi National Park Sunil Limaye, who is also the chief conservator of forests, said that officials of the state forest department had visited the accident spot and carried out an inquiry at the mishap site.
“We are inquiring with authorities at Film City’s gate to find about the vehicle that ran the animal over,” said Limaye.
He added that the forest department has in the past written to authorities at Film City to check speeding vehicles. “I will take up the issue with the managing director of Film City to come up with a practical solution,” said Limaye.
For this, Mota has suggested that speed-breakers be set up at regular distances. “Besides, road signage requesting people to drive slowly to save wildlife will help,” said Mota.
Go slow, cats on prowl
Speeding, say activists, is a threat to animals around Film City in Goregaon (east). In 2009, a leopard cub was killed after being run over at Film City.
The biker too had sustained injuries. The area is home to leopards which are often spotted here.
Activists have suggested setting up of speedbreakers to curb the menace.
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