The body of a man was reportedly found mauled by a leopard in Sathyamangalam forest area beside the ghat road section of Mysore road on Thursday morning.
A forest team attempting to retrieve the body of the middle-aged man found in thickets at a depth of over 30 feet was unable to determine immediately whether the victim had been attacked on the road and dragged by the leopard or the animal had mauled him after a possible fall from the roadside. The rescue team has ascertained that the man had been attacked by a leopard, Conservator of Forests and Director of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve I. Anwardin told The Hindu .
The victim is presumed to be a driver since a van was found parked on the ghat road near the 26th bend.
This is the first incident of predator attack on man after declaration last year of Sathyamangalam forests as a tiger reserve.