Gurgaon: A leopard was spotted in the Sehrawan area of Manesar on Thursday, close to National Security Guard (NSG) garrison and training campus, with a video of the animal moving through dense vegetation circulating among residents.The wildlife department said the leopard was seen crossing a narrow track in Aravalis before disappearing into the bushes. Officials said the area falls within the animal’s natural habitat and is part of a wildlife movement zone.“The forest area inside the NSG campus has many wild animals such as nilgai, jackals, hyenas, rabbits and monitor lizards. This indicates that the area provides a good habitat for leopards, as there is enough prey available,” said RK Jangra, wildlife official.The department does not plan to capture the leopard at this stage, Jangra said, adding that officials may inspect the area and monitor the leopard’s movement if further sightings are reported.The wildlife department has advised residents to remain cautious and keep children and pets indoors, particularly during the early morning and evening, and to inform the forest or wildlife department if they spot the animal again.The area has a history of leopard sightings. In Dec 2022, the wildlife department searched Aravalis near NSG campus after a leopard was spotted there. Leopards have also been reported from other parts of the city, including DLF 5, where sightings in Sept prompted advisories from the colony and nearby residential societies.A 2017 study by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) documented the presence of wild animals, including leopards and hyenas, in the Aravalis of the region. The study estimated leopard occupancy in the city and Faridabad at 200.9 square km, with the highest leopard occupancy in Haryana recorded in these two districts.“Manesar lies in the foothills of Aravalis and areas around it have traditionally been used by wildlife for movement. The expansion of roads, buildings and industrial activity has fragmented parts of the natural habitat, increasing the possibility of wildlife being seen close to built-up areas. Leopards can move through scrub and forest patches in search of prey and may sometimes pass through areas adjoining industrial or residential zones,” said Sunil Harsana, wildlife expert.