BIG CAT ATTACK
Watch as rampaging leopard pounces on van during attack that left 13 people in hospital
THIS is the shocking moment a wild leopard took a swipe at a van following a ferocious rampage through a city that saw 13 people injured.
Local residents were rushed to hospital with serious injuries from the big cat attack in Jorhat, north east India.
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Dramatic footage showed the beast emerging from a compound and leaping over a barbed wire fence.
Then, in a split second of rampage, it launches onto a passing vehicle and tears part of it off.
The spotted carnivore then runs off into the streets.
The moment was captured by another driver on the street.
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The leopard attacked at least 13 people, which included a forest guard and a mother and her two daughters.
Ranjit Konwar, a regional forest officer, said it was lucky there was no fatalities.
He said: "Some residents had a close shave as the leopard was roaming in their courtyards.
"Many of the injured were bitten and needed hospitalisation but they seem to be out of danger now."
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The animal was captured and tranquillised after a two-day search.
It is under further examination before it will be released into Kaziranga National Park.
While it is unknown what sparked the rampage in northern India, officials said leopards typically do not attack humans without provocation.
However, big cat attacks have become more common in the region as the need to house a growing population has encroached on animal habitat areas.
In 2021 alone, 500 people and 100 elephants were killed in human-animal conflicts.
India’s Minister of Environment Bhupendra Yadav blamed the fatalities on “competition for resources”.
The city of Mumbai, which has a historic leopard population, has also seen a spike in attacks on humans.
In July, a young girl was mauled to death by a leopard in southern India.
Last year, some of the worst leopard attacks were recorded as pouncing beasts ripped off victims’ scalps and tore open bodies in horror ambushes.
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