The moment when a leopard drowned was captured on camera.
The seven-year-old male leopard fell into an open well in Beslar village (Maharashtra, Western India).
The farmer noticed the big cat paddling to keep himself afloat while he tried to drown.
Before a local farmer spotted it, a leopard fell into an open waterhole in Beslar village in Maharashtra, Western India.
The farmer asked for assistance from Wildlife SOS and Forest Department of India in order to save the leopard.
The crew was able drop a cage in the well to entice the leopard onto board
He immediately alerted Wildlife SOS and Forest Department India, a non-profit charity that rescues and rehabilitates wildlife in distress in India.
To save the leopard from a dangerous situation, a trap cage was placed in the well.
Footage shows the moment that the leopard grabs onto a pole to hold it in place before the cage is lower. The big cat jumps quickly onto the cage as soon as it is opened.
The leopard was taken to Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre where he received medical attention.
Nikhil Bangar (Wildlife SOS) said that the animal was exhausted from the ordeal and would be kept under observation for a few more days until he can be released.
These incidents have become very common in the area. Last week, a leopard was rescued by a 35-foot-deep well in the same area.
Ajit Shinde, Range Forest Officer, stated that leopards are increasingly trying to catch prey in open water while on foraging trips. We have advised the villagers that they cover open wells to be safe.
The non-profit demanded that open wells be fenced or covered to prevent such incidents and save the lives of animals.
A group of wildlife specialists lift the leopard from the well using a special enclosure
The leopard, as seen in the photo, was taken to wildlife reserves where it was medically evaluated and given the chance of recovering from its ordeal.