This is the terrifying moment a hungry leopard creeps up on a sleeping dog and snatches it from under its owner's nose while the man lies on a mattress.

The shocking incident took place in the village of Degaon in Maharashtra, India, at around 3:30 am on Sunday, March 9.

Footage shows the wild cat prowling around a garden in front of a house while the pooch sleeps curled up in a ball beside the man's bed.

The homeowner, named in local reports as Jayanand Kale, appears to be on his phone as he lies in bed, with the large feline approaching silently.

The animal comes within inches of the sleeping canine before lunging at its throat, grabbing it in its powerful jaws, and running off with it.

Miraculously, the dog seems to break free at some point, as it can be seen running back towards its master and barking loudly.

Jayanand hurries inside the house as the unharmed pet continues to bark.

In an almost identical incident, a wild leopard kidnaps a sleeping dog from outside a home in Tumakuru, Karnataka, on February 28.

The large feline slowly and carefully approached the pooch in the yard, ensuring it did not wake up. The distressed canine stirred and cried for help, but it was too late, as the huge cat quickly grabbed it with its jaws and ran away with its meal.

Local reports indicate that injuries and fatalities from leopard attacks have been increasing in India. Statistics show there have been 551 reported deaths from leopard and tiger attacks over 20 years.

The leopard population in India has grown from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022, according to the Status of Leopards in India 2022 report, released by the Union Environment Ministry on February 29.

However, the development of homes in and around forests has led to an increase in conflicts with humans.