# IIT Bombay Leopard Incident: Safety & Coexistence Tips City: Mumbai · Author: Cityscope · Published: 25 Jun · Updated: 25 Jun · 4 min read > A leopard killed a dog on IIT Bombay campus, sparking fear. Learn practical safety tips, history of sightings, and how to coexist with urban leopards near Sanjay Gandhi National Park. **Tags:** Community, Social Causes, Meetups ## The Viral Incident: What the CCTV Footage Revealed Around 2:30 am on June 19, a CCTV camera at IIT Bombay’s staff hostel area captured a leopard entering the building’s lobby. Within moments, the animal pounced on a community dog, killed it, and dragged the carcass into the bushes. No students, faculty, or staff were harmed, but the footage spread rapidly online, sparking fear and intense debate about safety on the Powai campus. The incident, while alarming, is part of a long-standing pattern of leopard movement from the adjacent Sanjay Gandhi National Park. ![Leopard moving through IIT Bombay campus at night near staff housing](https://cityscope-ai.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/article-images/2026/06/5d1bf2268087422aab39cfc70e03894e.png) The leopard entered the staff hostel area around 2:30 am on June 19, as captured on CCTV. --- ## A Shared Landscape: Why Leopards Visit IIT Bombay and Powai IIT Bombay’s campus is heavily wooded and lies directly adjacent to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), one of the world’s few large protected forests inside a city. Leopards use these green corridors to move between patches of habitat. At night, they often venture into residential areas in search of prey—and community dogs are a primary target. Honorary wildlife warden Pawan Sharma notes that leopards have been sighted on campus for years because SGNP is so close, and his organization RAWW is in regular contact with the administration to advise on precautions. --- ## Not the First Time: A History of Leopard Sightings on Campus The June 19 attack is far from the first leopard encounter at IIT Bombay. In previous years, a leopard was found hiding behind a generator in the metallurgy workshop, prompting a day-long search. Another leopard stayed on campus for four days before forest officials determined it had left. Roads have been cordoned off, traps laid, and cautionary notices issued advising people to avoid certain areas between 6 pm and 6 am. These episodes show that the campus and authorities have experience managing such incidents without human casualties. ![Safety advisory sign on IIT Bombay campus near Sanjay Gandhi National Park](https://cityscope-ai.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/article-images/2026/06/a431324bf4c9474cbab92e3e96dab4a8.png) IIT Bombay has previously issued notices advising people to avoid certain areas between 6 pm and 6 am. --- ## Daily Life Disrupted: Joggers, Walkers, and Residents React The viral video has left many students and residents uneasy, especially those who jog or walk along the campus’s wooded paths and lakeside. Some are avoiding early-morning and late-evening exercise, while others now walk in groups. The shock of seeing a familiar dog killed inside a residential building has intensified concern. However, experts stress that with sensible precautions, outdoor routines can continue safely—adjustments like sticking to well-lit routes and avoiding isolated areas at night are simple and effective. --- ## Safety First: Practical Do’s and Don’ts for Powai and IIT Residents For walkers and joggers: avoid wooded or fringe areas between 6 pm and 6 am; choose lit, busy paths and go in groups. Dog owners should keep pets indoors at night, as dogs are a primary prey species. If you see a leopard, stay calm, keep your distance, and immediately inform campus security or the forest department. Never chase, corner, or attempt to photograph the animal up close. If you encounter a leopard at close range, stand your ground, make yourself appear larger, and back away slowly without turning your back. These measures are precautionary—actual close encounters are rare. ![Joggers exercising in a group on IIT Bombay campus during daylight](https://cityscope-ai.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/article-images/2026/06/8aa6d02badd847c49cb784dee87430b8.png) Experts recommend jogging in groups and sticking to well-lit routes to reduce risk during leopard-active hours. --- ## What Authorities Are Doing: Forest Department Surveys and Camera Traps Following the incident, the Maharashtra Forest Department installed camera traps and launched a survey to monitor leopard movement on the IIT Bombay campus. This will help design management measures, including awareness campaigns and coordination with campus security. In past sightings, teams from Thane Forest Department and SGNP have swiftly cordoned off areas, conducted searches, and issued advisories. The goal is always to prioritize human safety while minimizing harm to the leopard, reflecting a coexistence-focused approach. --- ## Coexistence, Not Conflict: Living Safely with Urban Leopards Leopards are not monsters; they are apex predators filling a vital ecological role in Mumbai’s unique urban wilderness. The fear sparked by the viral video is understandable, but the incident also shows that with coordinated action and simple precautions, people and wildlife can share this landscape. By securing pets, respecting nighttime advisories, and staying alert, Powai residents and nature lovers can continue to enjoy the green spaces that make this area special—while keeping themselves and the leopards safe. ## Sources * [A leopard was caught on CCTV inside the Powai campus of Indian ...](https://www.facebook.com/TheCSRJournal/videos/a-leopard-was-caught-on-cctv-inside-the-powai-campus-of-indian-institute-of-tech/1547943413585660/) * [Leopard strays into IIT-Bombay campus, efforts to rescue on](https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/leopard-strays-into-iit-bombay-campus-efforts-to-rescue-on/story-U1rWugrxMsR5zzrkD03qSM.html) * [Video: Leopard enters IIT-Bombay campus, attacks dog near ...](https://www.indiatvnews.com/maharashtra/video-leopard-enters-iit-bombay-campus-attacks-and-then-drags-dog-into-bushes-2026-06-20-1045514) * [CCTV captures leopard entering IIT-Bombay campus, kills dog; watch](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/leopard-attacks-dog-inside-iit-bombay-campus/articleshow/131865759.cms) * [Leopard Kills Dog At IIT Bombay, CCTV Footage Sparks ... - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP0dvAJIbbs) * [Video: Leopard Kills Dog At IIT Bombay, CCTV Footage Sparks Fear ...](https://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/leopard-kills-dog-at-iit-bombay-campus-cctv-footage-sparks-fear-among-residents-11662785) * [After Four Days, Leopard Leaves IIT Bombay Say Forest Officials](https://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/after-four-days-leopard-leaves-iit-bombay-say-forest-officials-594247) * [IIT-Bombay leopard attack: Maharashtra Forest Department launches survey, installs camera traps](https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/iit-bombay-leopard-attack-maharashtra-forest-department-launches-survey-installs-camera-traps-23636353) * [Leopard remains elusive at IIT after day-long search](https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/leopard-remains-elusive-at-iit-after-day-long-search/articleshow/38948264.html) * [Leopard Kills Dog At IIT Bombay, CCTV Footage Sparks Fear ...](https://www.ndtv.com/video/leopard-kills-dog-at-iit-bombay-cctv-footage-sparks-fear-among-residents-1115978) * [Mumbai - Panic grips IIT Bombay campus as a leopard creates terror ...](https://www.reddit.com/r/mumbai/comments/1ua04o6/mumbai%5Fpanic%5Fgrips%5Fiit%5Fbombay%5Fcampus%5Fas%5Fa%5Fleopard/) * [Leopard Enters IIT-Bombay Campus, Hides Behind a ...](https://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/leopard-enters-iit-bombay-campus-hides-behind-a-generator-593120) * [A Leopard Entered IIT Bombay Campus at Staff Hostel and ... - Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Btechtards/comments/1uaakui/a%5Fleopard%5Fentered%5Fiit%5Fbombay%5Fcampus%5Fat%5Fstaff/) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is it safe to jog or walk on the IIT Bombay campus after the leopard incident? Yes, with sensible precautions. Avoid poorly lit, wooded, or isolated areas between 6 pm and 6 am, walk in groups, and stick to well-used paths. The campus administration and forest department have issued safety advisories that, when followed, allow outdoor activities to continue safely. ### What should I do if I see a leopard on campus? Stay calm and keep your distance. Do not approach, chase, or try to photograph it up close. Immediately inform campus security or the forest department helpline. Ensure others stay away and avoid crowding the animal. If at close range, stand your ground, make yourself look larger, and back away slowly without turning your back. ### Why do leopards keep coming to IIT Bombay? The campus is heavily wooded and lies right next to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, creating a natural corridor for wildlife. Leopards are drawn by the availability of prey—especially community dogs—and often move through at night when human activity is low. The sightings are a predictable outcome of living beside a protected forest. ### Are there many leopards in Sanjay Gandhi National Park? Yes, SGNP supports a stable leopard population, and it is one of the few large protected forests within a major city. Leopards here have adapted to living alongside dense human settlements, and occasional movement into adjoining areas like Powai and IIT Bombay is ecologically normal. ### What is the forest department doing to prevent future incidents? After the June 19 incident, the Maharashtra Forest Department installed camera traps and launched a survey to monitor leopard movement on campus. They are also working with campus security and wildlife NGOs to design awareness campaigns and improve response protocols, just as they have done during past sightings. --- [View on Cityscope](https://www.cityscope.media/article/iit-bombay-leopard-incident-safety-coexistence-tips) · Source: https://www.cityscope.media/article/iit-bombay-leopard-incident-safety-coexistence-tips