A leopard mauled a two-year-old boy to death before being captured by locals in India.

Reports said the toddler, Hasnain Nisar, the only child in his family, was playing in his home's yard when the wild feline attacked and fatally wounded him in the village of Shirhama, Mawar, Handwara, Kupwara district, on Friday, December 6.

Residents discovered the child in a pool of blood and immediately rushed him to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Footage shows the wild cat, still with blood in its mouth, growling inside a steel cage.

A member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Langate, Sheikh Khurshid, visited the scene and expressed his deep sorrow over the situation.

Sheikh urged wildlife officials to intensify their efforts to capture the animals responsible and prevent further loss of life.

He said: 'My heartfelt condolences go out to the grieving family in this time of immense sorrow. It is imperative that wildlife officials act swiftly to ensure the safety of our local residents.'

In another incident, a leopard was beaten to death by villagers after attacking three people in Uttar Pradesh on December 3.

On October 20, a leopard pounced on a group of friends enjoying a picnic in the forests of Gohparu and Jaitpur in Shahdol district, Madhya Pradesh. Authorities said three people were injured in the attack and later treated at a medical college.

Local reports indicate that leopards have been attacking and killing individuals in the country. Statistics estimate there have been 551 deaths from leopard and tiger attacks over a span of 20 years.

Conservationists found that the leopard population in India has grown from 12,852 in 2018, to 13,874 in 2022, according to the 'Status of Leopards in India 2022' report, released by the Union Environment Ministry on February 29.

However, the development of homes in and around forests has led to an increase in conflicts with humans.