This is the dramatic moment a mother cow saves its calf's life by stomping on a leopard charging at them.

The bovine and its young were resting on a village street when the leopard emerged from the trees and rushed toward them in Jharkhand state on March 17.

CCTV footage shows the predator prowling in the shadows before bounding toward the farm animals. As the small calf began to sprint away, its mum struck the leopard with its powerful hooves, sending the wild cat fleeing.

Locals said the leopard had been seen multiple times in the Adityapur Industrial Area. It has not yet been captured.

Aditya Narayan, divisional forest officer of the Seraikela-Kharsawan district, said: 'Until the animal is captured or there is evidence it has moved out of the area, teams will be on the job.

'The leopard has not been sighted in the area over the past few days, but we are keeping tabs.'