MUMBAI, June 2 (Xinhua) -- A nine-month baby was allegedly mauled to death on Sunday by a leopard in Chandrapur district of India's western state of Maharashtra, 828 km from Mumbai.

"The baby boy was sleeping alongside his parents when a leopard possibly sneaked into their house, located close to a forest area, and took him away without anybody noticing it," media reports said, quoting forest officer Arun Gond.

The baby's body was found around half a kilometer away from the house.

The child's parents raised an alarm when they found him missing and informed the forest officials.