A family in Nuh, Haryana, unknowingly rescued leopard cubs under the impression that they were large kittens.

After coming across the two 4-day-old cubs roaming around a wooded area alone, the family had brought them back home thinking they had found their new pets.

Their neighbours quickly noticed the kittens were actually leopard cubs and the local forest officials were called.

Mohammad Sajid, 20, who picked up the cubs, said: "My family and I were returning with our cattle when we heard muffled cries and went to check. We found two 'kittens' searching for their mother. So we picked them up and brought them home.

"After some time, we gave them goat milk and they started playing with us. There was something unusual about them - they were bigger than the average kitten - so I called some villagers home and they confirmed them to be leopard cubs."

A veterinarian examined the cubs before they were reunited with their mother on Friday (July 14).

A family in Haryana Nuh district a family brings home leopard cubs mistaking them for ‘large kittens’
Forest officials tells , the cubs were brought to the village by a family who had gone to the forest area on Thursday evening to graze their cattle. There they found these cubs alone roaming and had allegedly mistook them for kittens, The forest team reunited the cubs with their mother around 5pm Friday

The wildlife officials on Friday morning rescued two four-day-old leopard cubs from Kotla village in Nuh and reunited them with their mother.

While returning with the cattle, they brought the cubs home as well, and were shocked when neighbours confirmed that the animals were leopard cubs, not kittens. Officials said on being alerted, a team from the wildlife department reached the home for rescue
They were examined by a veterinary doctor before being released . Mohammad Sajid (20), who picked up the cubs says , my family and I were returning with our cattle when we heard muffled cries and went to check. We found two “kittens” searching for their mother. so we picked them up and brought them home. After some time, we gave them goat milk and they started playing with us. There was something unusual about them -- they were bigger than the average kitten -- so I called some villagers home and they confirmed them to be leopard cubs,” he said.