Toddler mauled to death by leopard in Uttar Pradesh village

In a tragic incident, the mutilated body of a one-year-old boy was recovered after he was dragged away by a leopard from his home in Nevalganj village, located in the Sohlewa forest area of Balrampur district, officials said on Sunday.

According to Regional Forest Officer Manoj Kumar, the incident took place around 2 a.m. on Saturday night when Ghannawati, the child's mother, was sleeping with her son, Rohit, in the veranda of their house. She was awakened by the child's cries and witnessed a leopard carrying him away in its jaws. Before family members could intervene, the leopard vanished into the darkness.

Forest department teams immediately launched a search operation, and the child's body was later found on the outskirts of the village.

District Magistrate Vipin Jain said intensive efforts are underway to trace the leopard. Trap cameras have been installed, and three forest department teams have been deployed in the area. Authorities also plan to use drones to monitor wildlife movement and enhance surveillance in the region.

The incident has sparked fear among villagers, prompting officials to increase patrolling and awareness measures to prevent further human-wildlife conflicts.