Young Woman Dies After Being Savaged By Puma

A young woman has died after being savaged by a puma when she went out to walk her dogs.

Ana Mella Castillo, 28, hailed from the southern Chilean city of Valdivia, but was attacked in a rural area of the nearby town of Corral, where she was visiting family, on 20th October.

According to local media, the woman left the house at around 5pm to walk her two dogs.

Family members got worried when the woman did not return home, and went out looking for her.

They found her body in what photos reveal to be a wooded area, and it was covered in wounds.

Emergency services were called to the scene, who concluded that the attack was likely carried out by a puma or other similar animal.

Credit: @PDI_LosRios/Newsflash
Police officers at the scene

This theory was supported by the fact that family members had spotted several of the big cats in the area and that the victim’s father had allegedly been attacked a few days prior by another puma.

An investigation carried out by the emergency services determined that the woman had tried to defend herself.

Fatal puma attacks are rare, as the big cats do not typically attack humans. However, they may do so when they feel threatened, often when protecting their young.

The local authorities did not manage to capture the puma that attacked Ms Mella.


To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: William McGeeSub-EditorJoana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash

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