Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma
On 31 May, in the Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, a villager found a distressed leopard trapped in the well. The villagers informed the forest department and IFS Field Director, L Krishna Moorthy, responded quickly. Forest officials were on the scene in no time and a plan was swung into action for the leopard’s rescue. A bamboo ladder of about six metres was quickly assembled.
The officials and villagers at the scene carefully lowered the ladder into the well. The helpless leopard snarled as the ladder was lowered right next to it. Initially, the leopard made no move to climb out of the well, probably aware of the presence of the many men looking from above. It took about 20 minutes, but the leopard tentatively climbed the ladder and darted off into the forest.
Leopard sightings have become more and more common over the years. In recent years, droughts have become a common in Madhya Pradesh and with the rivers and other such natural bodies running dry, big cats such as this leopard have been pushed into contact with humans.
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