The Leopard of Panar killed over 400 people during the early 20th century, and is one of the most prolific man-eaters in recorded history, second only the Great Champawat Tigress who lived at the same time. ➷
The Panar Man-eater was a male Leopard that lived in Northern India. The big cat first began to consume human flesh from the numerous diseased corpses that littered the jungle, as a result of a Cholera plague. When the Cholera pandemic ended, and the corpses ceased, he began to hunt humans. Of this Jim Corbett wrote:
"A leopard, in an area in which his natural food is scarce, finding these bodies very soon acquires a taste for human flesh, and when the disease dies down and normal conditions are established, he very naturally, on finding his food supply cut off, takes to killing human beings"
"A leopard, in an area in which his natural food is scarce, finding these bodies very soon acquires a taste for human flesh, and when the disease dies down and normal conditions are established, he very naturally, on finding his food supply cut off, takes to killing human beings"
For many years the villagers attempted to hunt and trap the demon cat, to no avail. Panars man-eating Leopard could recognize the traps and was a master of camouflage and evasion. He was rarely seen until the moment he struck, sometimes even taking people right from inside their homes, in front of their families.
JIM CORBETT
Jim Corbett was a famous hunter of man-killing cats, he first heard of the Panar Man-eater while he was hunting Champawat Tigress. Two years later he was on the hunt for the Leopard of Panar. Corbett traveled to the Leopards territory and began to track the big male. The tracks brought him to the home of distressed man who's wife had just been attacked the previous night. The two of them had spent the night with the Leopard trying to claw its way through the door, to finish the kill.
Of this attack Jim Corbett wrote the following:
| The man’s wife, a girl of about eighteen, was lying on her back when the leopard clamped its teeth into her throat, and when the man got a grip of her arm and started to pull her back, the leopard—to get a better purchase—drove the claws of one paw into her breast. In the final struggle the claws ripped through the flesh, making four deep cuts. |  The Panar Leopard, illustrated by Raymond Sheppard 1954 |
In the heat of the small room, which had only one door and no windows and in which a swarm of flies were buzzing, all the wounds in the girl’s throat and on her breast had turned septic, and whether medical aid could be procured or not, the chances of her surviving were very slight; so, instead of going for help, I decided to stay the night with the man.
I very sincerely hope that no one who reads this story will ever be condemned to seeing and hearing the sufferings of a human being, or of an animal, that has had the misfortune of being caught by the throat by either a leopard or a tiger and not having the means—other than a bullet—of alleviating or of ending the suffering.
-Jim Corbett
I very sincerely hope that no one who reads this story will ever be condemned to seeing and hearing the sufferings of a human being, or of an animal, that has had the misfortune of being caught by the throat by either a leopard or a tiger and not having the means—other than a bullet—of alleviating or of ending the suffering.
-Jim Corbett
Like the fighting style leopards typically attack their prey's throat or the nape of the neck. A bite from a Leopard can lacerate or severe the jugular veins and carotid arteries, causing rapid blood loss. The spine may be crushed and the skull perforated, exposing the brain. Survivors of attacks typically suffer extensive trauma to the head, neck, and face.
Leopards also like to hang their prey in trees and return to the corpse over time. As a result Leopards mouths contain a lot of bacteria. Before antibiotics, 75% of survivors would die from infection.
THE HUNT
Corbett's first attempt to kill the Panar Man-eater was in April 1910 as he stood all night listening to the agonizing breaths of the dying girl. The only sign of the circling Leopard was the alarm calls of the Jackals in the darkness.
His second attempt was not until September 1910. Corbett hiked for 30 miles through jungle rains to remote villages suffering from a leprosy plague, connected only by footpaths. There he got word of recent attack at a village across the river.
After trekking through hills, crossing a flooded river with no bridges, and sleeping on open ground in the heart of the Leopards territory Corbett reached the village. The most recent attacks had occurred here, four men had just been killed.
Corbett staked out two goats to lure the Panar Leopard and laid in wait. The great cat took the first goat and vanished. Then three days later Corbett had the second goat tied about 30 yards from a tree and he laid in wait, all day, and then into the night. The Leopard finally came, he could only make out the sounds of the Leopard killing his prey and a faint white blur of the goats fur. By hearing alone he fired his shotgun and wounded the great cat, but again it escaped.
Corbett then lined his men up behind him with torches. He made them each promise not to run, so he would have enough torch light to target the wounded cat. They then walked out across the field toward the brush at the far side.
His second attempt was not until September 1910. Corbett hiked for 30 miles through jungle rains to remote villages suffering from a leprosy plague, connected only by footpaths. There he got word of recent attack at a village across the river.
After trekking through hills, crossing a flooded river with no bridges, and sleeping on open ground in the heart of the Leopards territory Corbett reached the village. The most recent attacks had occurred here, four men had just been killed.
Corbett staked out two goats to lure the Panar Leopard and laid in wait. The great cat took the first goat and vanished. Then three days later Corbett had the second goat tied about 30 yards from a tree and he laid in wait, all day, and then into the night. The Leopard finally came, he could only make out the sounds of the Leopard killing his prey and a faint white blur of the goats fur. By hearing alone he fired his shotgun and wounded the great cat, but again it escaped.
Corbett then lined his men up behind him with torches. He made them each promise not to run, so he would have enough torch light to target the wounded cat. They then walked out across the field toward the brush at the far side.
| There, suddenly the legendary man-eater lunged from the brush, and charged the legendary hunter. All of the men turned and ran instantly, though luckily one dropped his torch in flight giving Corbett just enough light to shoot the Leopard in the chest, ending its reign of terror. |  |
Leopards themselves are truly ancient and perhaps our oldest predator; Leopard bite marks have been found in the fossil bones of our hominid relatives, suggesting that the spotted cat was already dining on our ancestors over three million years ago. Modern Leopards and the Clouded Leopards are thought to have separated from their common ancestor around 6.8 Million Years ago.
Leopards, with their tactical cunning, stealth, and ferocity were the inspiration for the development of one of the primary martial arts taught at Imperial Combat Arts. The legendary style of Leopard Paw Kung Fu. Leopard style throat strikes were even integrated in S.C.A.R.S. and trained by modern special forces, though without the toughening and training of a true Leopard Paw.
 | Leopards also held a lot of symbolism in ancient China, and were the rank insignia of a 4th grade military officer, worn on the chest. Still today Leopard, aside from being a martial art, is the symbol for our Ting Sifu Rank. |
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Author
High Master Mang Taan began training martial arts full time in 1999 at the age of 19, and now in 2018 has logged over 30,000 hours of combat training in his career. High Master Mang Taan holds Master ranks in several martial arts and weapons systems, as well as being a firearms and survival expert. High Master Mang Taan teaches at Imperial Combat Arts 28 hours each week and works part time as a surgical assistant.
