Police said the man, a supervisor, was on field duty inthe estate in Edakkad when the leopard and the cub pounced onhim from behind and inflicted bleeding injuries.
However, another attempt to attack him was foiled afterestate workers raised an alarm after which the leopard and itscub went back to the jungles, they said.
The supervisor has been hospitalised.
The Forest Department has launched a search for the leopard and its cub to prevent their entry to human habitations, they said.