The search for water in India’s parched desert state of Rajasthan landed a leopard in distress after the animal got its head stuck in an metal pot when trying to quench its thirst on Wednesday (September 30).
The agitated leopard wandered around as it struggled to get rid of the pot over its head.
The incident was recorded and photographed by several onlookers who stopped and watched the creature.
But forest officials from the Rajsamand town eventually came to the leopard’s rescue and managed to free it after giving it some sedatives.
They were seen tranquilizing the leopard and removing the vessel from his head.
Later, they carried the free, yet subdued, animal to a vehicle with a special cage from which he could be released into the wild.
“Our team went and retrieved the leopard and it has been brought to a safe place, it has been kept in an enclosure. We also called veterinarians to assess its health, which is in good condition. We have also tranquilized the animal,” said District Forest Officer (DFO) of Rajsamand, Kapil Chandrawal.
Chandrawal added that the leopard was about three to three-and-a-half years old and had wandered into a mining dump near the town where his head got stuck in the pot.
Destruction and disturbances of wild habitats are the main causes for men and animal conflicts in India, where wild animals like leopards often stray into inhabited areas in search of food and prey. (Reuters)