Image credit : Illustrative image

Coimbatore : A 45-year-old woman was mauled to death by a leopard which strayed into human habitat in Valparai in the district.

Kailasavathi was washing clothes in the tea estate quarters at Kanchamala in the evening, when a leopard suddenly appeared and attacked her, police said. Even before she could raise an alarm, the animal took her by neck, resulting in her death, police said.

As neighbours rushed to rescue the woman, then carnivore managed to escape, they said.

A leopard had attacked a woman, Madavi last night in another estate in Valparai and she is undergoing treatment at government hospital.

With the leopard on the prowl for the last few days, villagers and estate workers have already demanded laying traps at strategic points.