Anantapur: A farmer was injured in an attack by a hyena on the outskirts of Basavanapalli village in Lepakshi mandal in the district on Monday. Although the victim said that it was a leopard the forest department confirmed that it was a hyena after checking the pugmarks of the animal in the mango orchard.

Sources said, P. Ramadas, 45, of Basavanapalli went to collect fodder from a mango orchard on Monday morning. While he was cutting the grass, suddenly a wild animal jumped on him and he was injured. Ramadas shouted for help and farmers from nearby fields rushed to the spot. The animal ran away into the nearby fields. Ramadas was immediately shifted to Hindupur hospital for treatment.

“When I was cutting the grass suddenly a leopard attacked me. However, it ran away when I shouted,” Ramadas said. He suffered injuries on his face and other parts of the body.

Anantapur DFO A. Chandrasekhar told DC that the pugmarks at the spot proved that it was a hyena and not a leopard. The forest department alerted people in areas near Basavanapalli following the hyena attack. The animal might had taken shelter in the mango garden and may have run away after seeing the farmer.