THE leopard isn’t the largest of the big cats nor does it have the most fearsome reputation but when they attack, the results are gruesome.

Scalps are ripped off and flesh torn open when the savage beasts go on the rampage – with the creatures prepared to fight to the death.

JAWS AROUND THE HEAD

The leopard doesn’t have sheer size of a lion or tiger but it has the most powerful jaws of all the big cats.

And while you could see a lion coming a mile off, the leopard famously uses its spots to disguise itself perfectly then pounce on its prey.

But don’t think you would be able to outrun one as leopards can reach a top speed of 36mph – maybe not as fast as their cheetah cousins not too shabby nonetheless.

Most of the attacks by leopards on humans happen in India, where there is much more interaction with people – as one man found to his cost.

A snarling leopard had mauled 11 people as it terrorised an Indian village but even when it was cornered the action wasn’t over.

Forestry officials trying to trap the animal were forced to scarper and even climb up on a jeep to escape when the adult male leopard took the fight to them

At one point, the beast leapt through the air with its fangs bared and landed on a man’s head, sinking its teething into his head and clutching him in its giant paws.

The leopard stood its ground, crouching on a wall, hissing and attacking those who came near before it was eventually tranquilised and sadly put down.

FIGHT TO THE DEATH

Kamla Devi, from a village in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, was badly mauled while returning from watering nearby fields.

The 56-year-old suffered serious injuries to her face, hands and legs during the attack, which lasted more than ten minutes, but fought back with farm implements, including a sickle and a shovel.

"At first, I was terrified, but then I gathered my courage to fight back," she told the Hindustan Times.

"I promised myself that this is not my last day."

After fighting off the animal, Mrs Devi, a widow, hobbled about back to her village, where locals took her to hospital in Srinagar.

SCALPED AT HOME

One man had a very lucky escape after being scalped when a leopard ambushed him at home in the city of Guwahati.

Four others were seriously wounded by the leopard after it ran into a house.

Eyewitness Nipu Das said: "We were simply shocked and stunned to find the leopard inside the house and soon the cat started attacking."

An auto rickshaw driver managed to cage the panicked leopard inside the house, which was kept locked until forest department officials arrived and sedated the animal.

One of the injured was admitted to hospital with injuries to his head and face.

One of the injured was admitted to hospital with injuries to his head and face.

RAMPAGING BEAST

Terrified locals were forced to flee when a leopard when on the rampage in an Indian village.

A video clip shows forest officials can be seen trying to catch the beast as it pounces on terrified onlookers.

The leopard can be seen pouncing on a man and trying to maul him using its mouth and paws before releasing him and taking down another horrified local.

The forest officials tried and failed twice to stop the carnage using a tranquillizer gun.

PLAYTIME GOES WRONG

Dwight Turner had his scalp and ear ripped off by a black leopard after he paid $150 to rub the predator's belly.

The 50-year-old he had to undergo multiple surgeries following the savage attack.

His scalp was "hanging from his head and his right ear was torn in half," according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report obtained by KBTX.

The incident allegedly took place at an enclosure at a home in South Florida owned by Michael Poggi.

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