THIS is the horrifying moment a leopard stalks, pounces and fatally mauls a six-year-old-girl as she played in her garden.
Terrifying footage shows the spotted beast run up behind Prisha Solanki, 6, before dragging her away into the shadows in Junagadh district, India.
The young girl had been playing in the courtyard outside her home in Dedkiyal village when she suddenly disappeared.
The CCTV footage shows the leopard sneakily following Prisha before it pounces at lightning speed.
Her family and local residents carried out a frantic two-hour search before finding Prisha’s body hidden in a nearby soybean field.
The leopard had moved away from the area by the time Forest Department officials arrived and began their operation to locate and capture it.
Eight cages were placed at different locations around the area in an attempt to trap the animal, while intensive patrolling and tracking operations continued.
A statement shared by Gir West Divisional Forest Officer Prashant Tomar said: “The leopard attacked and killed Prisha Solanki.
“Her body was found later near the farm.
“A team reached the spot and placed eight cages in the vicinity to trap the animal. Intensive patrolling and tracking operations are underway.”
Forest officials urged residents to remain cautious at night as the search and trapping operation continued.
The leopard remains at large.
The department also said the process of providing compensation to Prisha’s family had been given priority.
Leopard attacks remain a serious concern in parts of India as habitat loss, human encroachment and rising wildlife populations are causing a spike in attacks.
In July, an elderly man, 88, was killed in a savage leopard attack.
Ram Yadav was asleep on his veranda in the Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh, India when the wild cat crept up to the property.
The leopard launched itself at the 88-year-old before dragging him away screaming.
Ram suffered severe injuries, particularly to his neck, in the savage attack and was declared dead on his arrival at hospital.
The animals are increasingly sighted in and around human settlements.
Also in July, a ferocious leopard barged its way into a booze shop and launched itself at a terrified worker.
The leopard uses its razor-sharp claws to swipe at Sanjay Gurjar, 25, at the store in Todaraisingh, northern India.
Sanjay suffered claw injuries to his hand, shoulder and nose and the two other men were also injured by the beast.
It triggered a huge five-hour operation to track the predator, which they ultimately tranquillised and returned to the wild.
India’s national leopard assessment estimates the population to be around a total of 13,800.