Forest department officials rescued pangolin from being trafficked by residents of a village in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand.

The incident took place in Jamtara district on April 18.

The video shows the scaly anteater moving slowly as a resident grabs hold of its tail, in an effort to prevent the pangolin from escaping.

According to the reports, the villagers spotted the pangolin in the field and decided to carry it back with them.

The animal seemed very stressed out as people started flocking to get a view of it. Locals also filmed the pangolin on their mobile phones.

The scaly anteater is one of the most illegally traded animals for its medical benefits and meat.

These are endangered mammals, facing extinction because of human activities.

Fortunately, it was rescued by forest officials and cops, who rushed to the spot after being informed about the pangolin's presence.