A YOUNG BOY was mauled by a leopard at a zoo in the US state of Kansas on Friday, leaving him hospitalised with lacerations to his head and neck.

The Kansas City star reports the terrifying event when the 7-year-old boy – who was on a school trip to the zoo in Wichita, Kansas - climbed over a four or five foot railing, crossed an eight foot gap and stood next to the metal mesh fence by the leopard’s enclosure.

The four-year-old rare Amur leopard then ran up to the fence and with his paw grabbed the boy by the side of his head and tried to pull him through the metal mesh fence and into the enclosure.

Luckily, a man and woman then ran to the screaming boy’s rescue and managed to get the cat to release him by kicking the leopard in the head.

Bystanders rushed to the injured boy’s rescue, wrapping his head in shirts and towels to stop the bleeding from deep scratches to his head and neck.

An official from the county sheriff’s office told CNN that the boy was expected to be okay.

The zoo was evacuated for a short time after the attack but remained open after the incident.

Authorities have opened an investigation.