Mumbai | August 19, 2026

An injured leopard suspected to have an eye injury has been repeatedly spotted on the sprawling campus of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) in Powai, prompting the Forest Department to intensify surveillance and prepare for a possible rescue operation.

The leopard has reportedly been seen on the campus over the past two to three months. IIT-B authorities alerted the Forest Department after CCTV footage showed the animal apparently suffering from an eye injury.

Five camera traps installed

The Forest Department has installed five camera traps across the approximately 550-acre campus to track the leopard’s movements and assess its condition. While the cameras have recorded other leopards, officials have not recently captured an image of the injured animal.

Forest officials are continuing the camera-trapping exercise and monitoring the campus to establish the leopard’s movement patterns.

Rescue operation being planned

The Forest Department has informed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and is seeking the necessary permission to safely capture the leopard and provide it with treatment.

Meanwhile, the Thane Forest Department’s territorial team has been patrolling the campus and monitoring leopard activity.

Officials are also conducting awareness programmes for students, staff and residents living on the campus. They have been advised to maintain a safe distance from any leopard, avoid disturbing or provoking the animal and immediately inform authorities about sightings.

Living alongside Mumbai’s leopards

The incident highlights the unusual proximity between wildlife and one of India’s major urban educational campuses. IIT Bombay’s heavily wooded surroundings are connected to the wider green landscape of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, allowing leopards to move through the area.

Wildlife officials and conservation groups have been maintaining contact with the institute to minimise the possibility of conflict while ensuring that the animal is not unnecessarily disturbed.

The immediate priority is to locate the injured leopard, assess its condition and safely rescue it if intervention is required, while continuing to allow healthy wild animals to move through the landscape without unnecessary interference.