Gurugram- A female leopard, estimated to be around 2 to 2.5 years old, was found dead on the Gurugram-Faridabad road passing by the Aravalli river on Friday evening.
A local NGO alerted wildlife officials, after which the officials reached the spot and took the body into custody for postmortem.
Wildlife officer RK Jangra said, “It seems to be a case of hit-and-run and it is definitely a big loss for us. Postmortem is underway. The presence of speeding vehicles on this road at night is definitely a matter of concern.”
The Gurugram-Faridabad road runs along the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary to the north and the Aravalli river to the south. Officials said leopards often cross the road while moving between the two areas, increasing the risk of accidents.
An estimated 50 leopards live in the Aravalli region of Gurugram and their sightings have increased in recent years. In 2019, a leopard died in a road accident in the same area. Environmentalists have long been advocating for a ‘wildlife corridor’ to create a safe passage for animals crossing the road.
Despite assurances from the Haryana government over the past two decades, no permanent solution has been implemented. Meanwhile, the state is moving ahead with plans to develop a 10,000-hectare safari in the Aravalli.