A leopard has injured 15 people in one town as it goes on a rampage searching for food.
The wild beast struck in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam on Monday, attacking 10 residents at the Rain Forest Research Institute in Chenijan.
It also struck several forest personnel in its desperate hunt for a meal.
Ranjit Konwar, from the institute, told local media: “The leopard attacked two forest officers in the morning.
“The animal has become very aggressive, and we have laid traps inside the campus to capture it - efforts are on to track it.
“Some residents had a close shave as the leopard was roaming in their courtyards.”
It is thought that the animal had come to the campus from the nearby Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, where it roams freely.
As it stands, all efforts to transquelise the leopard have proven unsuccessful, and video footage taken by locals show it causing untold havoc in the area.
One video shows it leaping over a high gate, crashing into a car before running away.
Among the others injured were two children and a woman, the Times of India reports.
Many of the injured were bitten and needed hospitalization, but they seem to be out of danger now.
"But more people with injuries are coming to Jorhat Medical College Hospital,” spokesman Purnima Barua said.
Superintendent of police in Jorhat, Mohan Lal Meena, confirmed that all those injured in the frenzied attacks have been taken to hospital and that efforts to catch the beast “are still ongoing”.
According to the experts at Discover Wildlife, there are three rules to stick to in order to avoid being attacked by a wild leopard.
They state: “Don’t approach too closely, especially if you see cubs, either alone or with their mother.
“Keep small children secure at night when camping in areas frequented by leopards.
“If a leopard charges, shout, clap your hands and wave your arms to appear bigger.”
Given that the leopard in question jumped onto a moving car and appeared unfazed, the last rule might not help in these circumstances.
