Buddhist monk killed by leopard while meditating

A Buddhist monk has died after he was attacked by a leopard while meditating, according to reports.

Rahul Walke, 35, was sat under a tree in the Tadoba forest in Maharashtra, India, when he was attacked by the animal.

Walke was part of a nearby Buddhist temple inside the forest, which is a protected tiger reserve, but had walked deeper into the woods to meditate.

Forest officials said they had warned the monks against going too far inside.

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve's Deputy Conservator of Forest Gajendra Narwane told BBC Marathi: "I would like to tell everyone not to go inside the forest.

"We have set up two cages and a camera trap, and we will try to tranquilise the animal.”

A monk belonging to the same temple told the BBC that he had seen Mr Walke being attacked when he visited his meditation spot to give him food on Wednesday morning.

He ran to find help but when he returned, the monk was dead.

The Tadoba reserve is home to almost 90 tigers, as well as other animals including sloth bears, hyenas and honey badgers.