A hiker was killed by at least one cougar in the US state of Colorado on Wednesday, wildlife officials said.
If confirmed, it would be the first fatal attack there since 1999.
A group of hikers found the body of a woman on a remote trail and spotted a lion nearby. After scaring off the predatory cat, they examined the body and could not find a pulse, said Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) spokeswoman Kara Van Hoose.
It is unknown whether one or more animals were involved in the attack, she added. The two cougars were euthanized after an extensive search and investigators are now examining them for signs of human DNA.
Tourists threw rocks at the cougar to drive it away, Ms. Van Hoose told a news conference. CPW officers responded to the scene and shot the lion, which ran away. They then tracked him down to euthanize him.
A second lion was found in the area and was also euthanized.
If none of the lions turns out to be the culprit, the search for a possible attacker will resume. According to CPW regulations, wild animals that kill humans must be euthanized for public safety reasons.
According to Ms. Van Hoose, the woman's body showed signs of being attacked by a cougar.
The local sheriff's office has notified her next of kin and will later release her identity, Ms Van Hoose told the BBC. Presumably, she went on a hike alone.
The Crozier Mountain Trail is north of Denver, near the Wyoming border and close to Rocky Mountain National Park. The area can be considered secluded, Ms. Van Hoose said, adding that tourists often lose cell phone signals.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office, police from nearby Estes Park and volunteer firefighters assisted in the search.
A biologist conducting a helicopter survey of deer in the area helped locate the animal and transport personnel, according to CPW. Meanwhile, the hounds brought in dogs to track scents, which Ms. Van Hoose said is often an effective way to locate mountain lions.
Mountain lion attacks—both fatal and non-fatal—are rare in the state, with CPW recording a total of 28 such incidents since 1990.
Cougars, also called cougars, cougars, catamounts or panthers, can be found throughout North America, but are now primarily found in 15 western states, according to the Mountain Lion Foundation. According to the foundation, these are mostly solitary animals that spend most of their time hunting.
