Leopard carcass update: Researchers at SGNP identify leopard as L-28

A few days ago, a leopard and Sambar deer’s carcass was found at Goregaon FIlm city and forest officials had declared it as a clear case of poaching. Meanwhile, researchers at SGNP have identified the leopard. They have discovered that the leopard was one on their database and was identified as L-28, whom the researchers had named 'Paani'. Now, they are worried about the fate of her cub.  

On Monday, the leopard's decomposed body was found trapped in a metal snare around its abdomen near the set of a TV show in Film City. The leopard's body was then taken to SGNP for carrying out formalities including the post-mortem. Photos were taken of both of its flanks to match the rosette patterns in the leopard images database at SGNP and Aarey Milk Colony. 

Photo Credit- Mid Day

Paani was first photographed in the summer of 2015. She was named Paani (water) as she was first spotted near a waterhole. 

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In the summer of 2017, through a camera trap in SGNP and Film City, the researcher had also photographed Paani. In the summer, she was photographed with a cub. Researchers believed that the cub must be roughly a year-old by now. However, a few months ago, the cub was photographed walking without its mother.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Thane Forest Department (territorial) team along with their leopard rescue team and volunteers, carried out a combing operation in the area and come across four more snares. 

Considering the seriousness of the incident, Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has asked the forest secretary to submit a report in four days.