Leopard attacks 28-yr-old near city national park

Mumbai: A 28-year-old youth, Suraj Gavai, was attacked by a leopard in Rahul Nagar, Mulund colony, during the wee hours of Sunday, while he was trying to engage it in order to rescue his pet dog from the leopard’s attack. Gavai’s house is located adjacent to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), where the leopards are usually spotted.

Gavai confronted the leopard after hearing the dog’s screams. When the neighbours rushed in, the leopard ran away. Leop-ards usually venture into the residential areas to prey upon dogs, goats and other such animals.

Gavai sustained grievous injuries on his head and lower lid and bled profusely. He was rushed to the civic-run KEM hospital, where he has been kept in a special ward since he is prone to getting infections. Dr Avinash Supe, the dean of KEM hospital said, “We have sutured his wounds and now he is stable and out of danger. We have stabilized him with anti biotic and injections and his condition is improving.”

The incident took place at 2 am in night outside Gavai’s house where a pet dog named ‘Rani’ was tied. Dr Jitendra Ramgaonkar, deputy conservator of forest (DCF), Thane, said, “There had been a fight between the dog and the leopard and listening to that voice, the kid got up and went to separate them. The fight continued and then when people gathered the leopard ran away.”

Mr Ramgaonkar said, “Usually leopard don’t attacks in this manner, but in this case the prey was kept outside his house which is adjacent to SGNP.”