A leopard entered the IIT Bombay campus in Powai and killed a stray dog during the early hours of Friday, June 19, 2026 [1].
The incident highlights the ongoing danger posed by wildlife incursions into urban residential areas as the campus borders a major national park. This event has caused significant alarm among students and staff living in the affected area.
According to CCTV footage, the attack occurred around 2 a.m. [1]. The leopard was captured on camera entering the staff hostel area of the campus before attacking and dragging the dog away [2]. While the animal was killed, no human injuries were reported during the encounter [3].
Residents and students have expressed fear following the release of the footage [2]. The leopard's presence in the staff hostel area underscores the vulnerability of the campus population to predators from the neighboring wilderness [3].
Wildlife experts said leopard sightings are common in the Powai region [4]. This is because the IIT Bombay campus borders the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which leads to increased leopard activity near residential zones [4]. The proximity of the park to the urban sprawl of Mumbai creates a natural corridor for leopards to enter the city in search of prey [5].
Local authorities have been alerted to the incident as the community seeks ways to mitigate the risk of future attacks. The viral nature of the footage has brought renewed attention to the precarious balance between urban development, and wildlife habitats in the city [2].
“The leopard was captured on camera entering the staff hostel area of the campus before attacking and dragging the dog away.”
The incident reflects the persistent human-wildlife conflict in Mumbai, where urban encroachment on the Sanjay Gandhi National Park forces predators into residential areas. Because the IIT Bombay campus serves as a buffer zone, it remains a high-risk area for such encounters, necessitating stricter wildlife management and safety protocols for the student and staff population.
