A Buddhist monk in India has been killed by a leopard which attacked him while he was meditating.

Rahul Walke was mauled by the animal on 11 December, as he sat under a tree deep in the Ramdegi forest in India’s Maharashtra state.

The monk had been meditating at the same spot, in a protected tiger reserve, for the last month, according to The Times of India. A historic Buddhist temple sits near the meditation spot.

Walke’s body has been recovered and forest officials have now cordoned off the area.

They have also limited visitor access to the temple.

An official speaking to The Times of India said that two other monks often visited Walke and brought him food.

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He added that forest staff had warned the monks about wild animals in the area.

“But unfortunately before the monk could leave the place, the incident occurred,” he said.