A captured crocodile leapt out of a moving rickshaw in as it was being taken to a river to be released.

Footage shows the reptile in an upside-down position being put back into the vehicle by locals after it jumped out in Vijaypur, Sheopur district, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday morning, September 12.

The crocodile was being transported back to its habitat when the incident happened at the Sunwai Tri-junction.

The animal had entered a house the previous night, prompting villagers to call the forest department.

However, residents said the authorities did not arrive in time, so they used sticks and ropes to rescue the reptile.

National Chambal Sanctuary Department Superintendent Yogendra Parde said that he was informed about the incident and will investigate further.

India has two main crocodile species - the saltwater croc and the mugger croc, found in freshwater rivers.