Leopard found dead, another kills child

The carcass of a male leopard was recovered on Laxmanjhula-Nilkanth road near Dobra village in Lansedowne forest division yesterday, the officials said.

The injury marks on the three-year-old leopard's body suggested it died in a fight with another big cat, they said.

"The teeth marks on the dead leopard's neck and deep bruises on its stomach indicate that it was killed in a fight with another big cat," an official said, but added that the exact cause of its death will be known only after the post mortem report comes.

In another incident, a five-year-old boy was mauled to death by a leopard at Gauchar in Chamoli district, spreading panic in the area, the officials said today.

The boy was assaulted by the feline in his own courtyard late on Wednesday night and dragged into nearby forest, they said.

The half-eaten body of the victim was recovered by forest officials yesterday, they said.

Vigilance has been stepped up in the area in the wake of the incident.