A leopard fell into an irrigation well in central India on September 14 and was clinging on to the wall desperately while rescuers were working to save it.

A few passersby noticed the drowning animal in Buldhana district, Maharashtra state, and alerted the forest department, which rushed a Rapid Rescue Team to the spot.

Realising that there was no time to bring in proper rescue equipment, the rescue team lowered a typical village cot hoping that it would serve as a makeshift ladder for the animal to climb up.

The exhausted leopard got the idea and struggled to pull itself up.

Though it paused to catch its breath a few times, it never gave up. It reached the surface and ran into the fields without giving a glance to the crowd, who were cheering on its heroic effort.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Maharashtra, M K Rao congratulated the rescue team and said: “The Rapid Rescue Team of Buldhana acted swiftly and showed great presence of mind.”

A leopard fell into an irrigation well in Buldhana district in western India September 14 and was clinging on to the wall desperately.

A few passersby noticed the drowning animal and alerted the forest department, which rushed a Rapid Rescue Team, to the spot.

Realising that there was no time to bring in proper rescue equipment, the rescue team lowered a typical village cot hoping that it would serve as a makeshift ladder for the animal to climb up.

The exhausted leopard got the idea and struggled to pull itself up.

Though it paused to catch its breath a few times, it never gave up. It reached the surface and ran into the fields without giving a glance to the crowd, which was cheering its effort wildly. .

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Maharashtra, M K Rao congratulated the rescue team and said: “The Rapid Rescue Team of Buldhana acted swiftly and showed great presence of mind.”