(Representative image)
RAJKOT: A two-and-a-half-year-old girl was mauled to death by a leopard when she was sleeping outside her house in Bhandariya village of Bhavnagar district early on Sunday.
Officials of Palitana wildlife range suspect that the leopard may have been attracted by the goats tethered near the house or the family may have consumed non-vegetarian food at night and dumped the lefover nearby.
The victim was identified as Daya Madhasukhiya, whose father Arvind works as a farm labourer.
“The leopard attacked around 4am and dragged the girl before the family could come to her rescue. It ate around 70-80% of the body. The victim could be identified only by her clothes. Four cages have been set up in the area to capture the wild cat,” said Arpit Bhariya, range forest officer of Palitana.