- By Veerendra Naidu
“Hello?”
“There’s a leopard at Vasai Fort!”
This was what we heard on a call and when we were least expecting it.
The Vasai Fort is a tourist site, with dense human settlements, on the outskirts of Vasai city. The leopard had collided with a vehicle, and we were instructed to reach the spot immediately. The urgency in my colleague’s voice was undeniable.
We had just wrapped up another morning of camera-trapping for leopards in Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (TWLS), a rugged forest patch bordered by the buzzing suburbs of Vasai near Mumbai’s sprawling urban jungle. Leopards here thrive against all odds, adapting seamlessly to an environment encircled by human settlements. Yet, this call hinted at something extraordinary.
A follow-up message with a camera-trap photo confirmed the presence of a leopard at Vasai Fort, about nine kilometres from TWLS’s boundary. Miraculously, both the leopard and the motorcyclist had escaped unharmed from the collision. The Forest Department had quickly set up camera traps at the fort and captured an image, asking us to cross-check it with our existing database from TWLS.
Scrolling through our data, we were startled—this was no random leopard. This individual had been photographed in TWLS two weeks ago. We mapped its potential route, and realised he moved through dense human settlements, crossed two railway lines, and even traversed a bustling highway, undetected to reach Vasai Fort from TWLS. Intrigued, we rushed to investigate.
The fort, an ancient archaeological tourist site, is split centrally by a municipal road. On one side lies a bustling settlement of fisherfolk; on the other, conserved ruins that merge into mangroves. Hidden among its ancient walls was a network of underground tunnels—perfect refuge for a stealthy predator. Scattered pugmarks further confirmed the leopard’s presence, and the abundance of free-ranging dogs hinted at a stable prey base. Camera traps were set, and with the help of local volunteers, we began tracking its movements.
A map depicting the spatial connectivity between Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary and Vasai Fort, outlining the leopard’s possible traverse route | WCS-India
Over the following days, a pattern emerged. The leopard spent its day-hours hidden in the tunnels, venturing out only at night to roam the area and return before dawn. To prevent further accidents, the Forest Department barricaded the road at night and initiated awareness sessions for locals. The community’s cooperation was appreciable—they understood the complexity of living alongside wildlife.
But the situation called for more. After two weeks of regular sightings and detections in camera trap images, a decision was made to safely capture and rescue the leopard. The feline proved elusive, evading every trap cage set for it, even managing to enter a cage without getting trapped. With pressure mounting, we deployed live-feed cameras and monitored the traps night after night. One morning, fresh pugmarks near our camp revealed just how close the leopard had been—watching us even as we watched for it.
Camera trap image of the leopard found at Vasai Fort, Mumbai | Maharashtra Forest Department/WCS-India
After nearly three weeks, success was achieved! The leopard was safely captured, uninjured and safe. Using our camera-trap evidence, the Forest Department opted to release it back into TWLS, ensuring it remained in its familiar territory.
Field team conducting camera trap monitoring and on-ground tracking at Vasai Fort | WCS-India
This experience was a powerful reminder of how adeptly leopards navigate human-dominated landscapes, avoiding direct interaction despite their proximity. Except for the initial collision, the leopard caused no harm during its three-week stay at Vasai Fort.
This incident also underscored the vital role of multi-stakeholder involvement in conservation. The cooperation from local communities, proactive response from the Maharashtra Forest Department staff and assistance and expertise from NGOs like Wildlife Welfare Association’s rescue team were crucial for effective conflict management.
Through careful monitoring and community collaboration, we ensured the safety of both the leopard and the people—a testament to coexistence in a rapidly urbanizing world.