Officers from India's forest department on Wednesday (June 20) rescued a leopard that fell into a deep well in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The two-year-old big cat fell into the water source in Raisen district while hunting and was unable to scale the steep sides.

Rescuers lowered a cot down to the feline on ropes and then hauled the stricken animal to the surface using a pick-up truck.

As soon as the leopard spied dry land, it hopped off the cot and walked away into the wild.

A two-year-old leopard that was out looking for prey lost its balance and slipped inside in central India's Madhya Pradesh on June 2. The incident took place in the Begumganj region of the Raisen district.

Visuals feature the big cat struggling to stay afloat in the well while its saviors lower a cot inside with the help of ropes. Following this, the leopard manages to reach the cot and curls up on its surface. Then, the rescuers pull the cot to safety with their vehicle's force. Once on the ground, the relieved big cat springs off the cot and disappears into the woods.

The leopard approached a 25-feet-deep well containing up to 8-feet of water adjacent to a farm while hunting. However, due to the absence of a protective barrier, the big cat lost its balance and tumbled inside. Moreover, terror gripped the locals upon spotting the panic-stricken leopard inside the well.

They alerted the forest department, who immediately swung into action. A team of forest officials reached the spot and initiated the one-and-an-half-hour-long rescue operation, following which the leopard was successfully brought out of the well.  

The rescue team led by Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ajay Kumar Pandey included forest ranger Jitendra Singh Tomar, veterinary doctor. JP Tiwari, Deputy Ranger GS Baghel, Sardar Singh, Vikas Singh, Pradeep, and Nitin.