The intense moment a drowning leopard was rescued from a well has been caught on camera.
The seven-year-old male leopard had fallen into an open well in Beslar village, Maharashtra, Western India. A local farmer spotted the big cat paddling frantically to stay afloat and stop itself from drowning.
Video: Drowning leopard rescued by locals from well in Western India
A leopard fell into an open well in Beslar village, Maharashtra, Western India before it was spotted by a local farmer
He immediately alerted the Forest Department India, and Wildlife SOS – a non-profit charity rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in distress across India, was also called in. Footage shows the leopard clinging to a pole first before a cage is lowered. The moment the cage is opened the exhausted big cat quickly jumps onto it. The leopard was taken to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre for medical attention after the rescue last week.
Nikhil Bangar, wildlife veterinary officer from Wildlife SOS, said: ‘The animal was exhausted from the ordeal, and will be kept under observation till he is deemed fit for release.’ Such incidents have become quite widespread in the region. Earlier in the week another leopard was rescued from a 35-foot-deep well in the same region. Ajit Shinde, a Range Forest Officer, said: ‘This is becoming a common occurrence across Junnar as leopards often try to catch prey in open wells while on foraging trips. ‘We have advised the villagers to take precautionary measures by covering up open wells.’
The non-profit has demanded to fence areas around open wells or cover them to avoid such incidents and save lives of the animals.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
