Leopard Dies From People Attack
A leopard has died in the city of Nasik located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra after a severe beating by panicked members of the public.
The incident happened after it strayed into a populated area, wildlife officials say.
In recent years, attacks by leopards have gone up in Maharashtra state, resulting in the deaths of 22 people.
Dozens of people chased the leopard all over the densely populated Nasik city before cornering the wild animal.
Eyewitnesses said the public panicked on spotting the leopard and attacked the big cat in apparent self-defence.
Loss of habitat
N Munde, a wildlife official, said the beatings were the result of ignorance about the wildlife in the general public.
But he also said the leopard's foray into the human population was a clear indication of the continuing loss of habitat for the wild animals in the state.
"The loss of habitat results in a conflict between man and animal."
Some caged leopards were recently released back into the wilderness near Nasik, about 100km from India's commercial capital, Mumbai (Bombay).
A couple of years ago, leopards were venturing out of their habitat in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai and attacking people nearby.
Wildlife experts are worried that regular encroachments on the sanctuary, Mumbai's green lungs, were resulting in animals slipping out into the human population.
BBC News: 18th January 2007