Officers from India's forest department today (March 7th) rescued a wild leopard from the bottom of a 50-foot-deep well.

Locals heard the cries of the feline after it fell into the water source on a coconut farm in Una in the state of Gujarat.

Rescuers arrived and attached a large crate to ropes which they then lowered down to the leopard.

The big cat leapt into the crate and rescuers hauled the animal to safety.

After a marathon operation, forest officials and villagers saved a leopard from drowning in a large open well in western India.

The rescue operation took place on March 07 at a coconut farm in Una, Gir Somnath district of Gujarat.

According to sources, the resident heard the distressed cries of an animal bellowing from the bottom of 50-feet water well.

After spotting the leopard, the farmers alerted the forest officials who rushed to the spot to rescue the animal.

After a continued rescue operation, the animal was hauled out in a crate.

According to reports, there are a lot of leopards in the surrounding jungles.

However, illegal human encroachment of forest lands is forcing them to stray into residential areas.