Man-eating leopard 'targeting drunks'

A serial killer leopard that has reportedly killed 12 people is terrorising a Himalayan district, as locals believe it is targeting drunks on the road.

The animal is believed to have killed its first man in January 2012, the UK Telegraph reported.

Madan Paneru from Kotali village said people were living in a state of fear.

Villagers in the area believe most of the victims were drunk when they were attacked.

However, Belinda Wright of the Wildlife Protection Service of India said she believed the leopard only attacked inebriated victims because they were more vulnerable.

"Quite frankly when people are drunk and weave their way back home to the village they are easy prey," she said.

The leopard has been declared a man-eater by local authorities.

It is believed to be 10-12 years old and healthy, although the big cats usually only become man-eaters when they are too sick or old to catch other prey.