Local authorities working with a wildlife charity on Friday rescued two leopard cubs which were stuck at the bottom of a 15-foot-deep water tank in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Teams from Wildlife SOS and the Maharashtra Forest Department arrived at Gulunchwadi village in Junnar to assess the situation and decided to lower an extendable ladder into the tank so that the stricken felines to climb out on their own.

Although the 9-month-old cats were initially apprehensive, they soon realised that their only way out of the tank was to use the ladder and they quickly climbed to safety.

Dr. Ajay Deshmukh, Senior Veterinarian at the Wildlife SOS Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center said:

“Wild animals are not accustomed to human contact, and often completely unaware of it. To avoid causing any additional stress to the leopards, we thought it best to aid them into finding their own way out of the water tank, with the help of the ladder. We are grateful to the villagers for their cooperation and to the Forest Department for making this rescue mission a success.”

Two young Leopards rescued from 15 feet deep water tank in India.

In a two-hour long operation, a pair of 9-month-old male leopards were rescued from a nearly 15-foot-deep water tank by Wildlife SOS & the Maharashtra Forest Department outside Gulunchwadi village located in Belhe, Junnar.

Earlier this week, a late-night call from Range Forest Officer Bapu Yele alerted the Wildlife SOS team that manages the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center in Junnar to two young leopards that were caught in a distress situation. The pair was found trapped inside a nearly 15-foot-deep water tank, behind a poultry farm in Gulunchwadi village.

A five-member team of trained rescuers from the NGO along with a group of forest officers rushed to carry out the rescue mission. After assessing the situation, they decided to lower an extendable ladder into the tank, so the cubs could easily climb out on their own. The team also set up safety nets around the area as a security measure.

Upon taking a closer look, Wildlife SOS veterinarian, Dr. Ajay Deshmukh confirmed that the leopards were both males, approx. 9 months old. Though initially apprehensive of the ladder, the cubs soon realised that it was the only way out of the water tank. In a few swift moves, they managed to successfully climb out on their own and immediately ran off in search of safe cover.

Dr. Ajay Deshmukh, Senior Veterinarian at the Wildlife SOS Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Center said “Wild animals are not accustomed to human contact, and often completely unaware of it. To avoid causing any additional stress to the leopards, we tho