The leopard was filmed attacking a van in India
(Picture: Twitter/@ANI)A wild leopard that went on a two day rampage through a north east Indian city is thought to have injured at least 15 people.
Footage shared on social media shows the big cat leaping over a fence before throwing itself at a van in Jorhat, a city of 153,000 where urban sprawl is now encroaching forest land.
Indian network News18 reported the leopard first attacked a woman and her two daughters - inflicting serious injuries which needed hospital treatment.
Wildlife commissioners moved in to stop the threat, but not before the leopard was able to get inside their vehicle and attack forest guards. The personnel shot at the big cat but it was able to escape and continue its rampage.
#WATCH | Assam: 13 persons including three forest staff were injured after being attacked by a leopard in Jorhat. All injured persons were immediately admitted to a local hospital. All the injured persons are out of danger: Mohan Lal Meena, SP, Jorhat (26.12) pic.twitter.com/TQ92Z248NR
— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2022
“Some residents had a close shave as the leopard was roaming in their courtyards,” Ranjit Konwar, a forest officer in Jorhat, told the Telegraph.
“Many of the injured were bitten and needed hospitalisation but they seem to be out of danger now.”
News18 said the leopard is suspected to have come from the Gibbon reserve forest, adjacent to the Rain Forest Research Institute, in search of food. It is unusual for big cats to attack humans but urbanisation is making such instances more commonplace in India, with a similar attack being reported in November.
After a two day search, it was found and tranquillised. Now the leopard will be examined before being released to Kaziranga National Park.
