Leopard Tragedy: Forest Department Watchman Mauled to Death in Gujarat

An outsourced employee of the forest department, Ganpatbhai Tettabhai, was mauled to death by a leopard in Chhota Udepur district, Gujarat. The incident occurred in the Pavi Jetpur range forest. The leopard dragged Tettabhai into the Baria forest, and his body was discovered the following day.

An outsourced employee of the forest department was mauled to death by a leopard in Chhota Udepur district of Gujarat, officials reported on Tuesday.

The tragic incident took place on Monday evening in the Pavi Jetpur range forest, they said.

Ganpatbhai Tettabhai, 45, who worked as a watchman, was dragged into the Baria forest by a leopard, according to range forest officer (RFO) Vanraj Solanki. His body was found on Tuesday.

A resident of Ambakhoot village in Pavi Jetpur taluka, Tettabhai was an outsourced employee of the forest department.

''When Tettabhai didn't return home on Monday after his duty, his family alerted the forest department. Search teams found his body on Tuesday afternoon. The leopard had dragged him approximately 2 kilometers from the attack site,'' the RFO elaborated.

Forest officials discovered pug marks, along with the victim's shoes and bag at the scene, and noted that the leopard had bitten him on the back, Solanki added.

(With inputs from agencies.)