Asola Bhatti Sanctuary

Two leopard cubs were spotted in the Asola Bhatti Sanctuary recently in a fresh example of how bold efforts of conservationists and the forest and wildlife department can help several wildlife species recover in the urban jungles. Forest department officials Wednesday said the two cubs were caught on a camera trap a few days ago. A video shared by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) on its Instagram page showed a leopard cub emerging from a burrow inside the sanctuary. Since mother felines do not travel long distances with newborns, the officials believe the sanctuary is their birthplace. An official said this is first time that a cub leopard has been spotted in the jungles of Asola since leopard sightings began a few years ago. The wildlife department and the BHNS had released a study in October, confirming the presence of eight leopards in the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, with enough evidence to suggest the large carnivore is making the urban forest its permanent home.

The author goes on an early morning butterfly trail through the Asola Bhatti Sanctuary in Delhi