- Leopard rescued from drowning in a well at a temple, in Sikar, west India
- Monkeys alerted worshippers to the leopard trapped in the well at the temple
- Apes were seen chattering and jumping incessantly on the edge of the well
- Worshippers called forest officials, who used a ladder to help the leopard out
A leopard was saved from drowning in a 25ft deep well in western India, thanks to a troop of inquisitive monkeys, who alerted locals to the predator’s plight.
The monkeys were spotted incessantly chattering and jumping on the edge of a well behind a temple in Sikar, Rajasthan early last Monday.
Temple visitors were drawn to the well by the monkeys’ unusual behaviour, and found the leopard swimming at the bottom.
Monkeying about: Villagers who had gathered to worship at the temple in Sikar, Rajasthan, spotted the monkeys making noise around the well
Down there! When the worshippers moved closer, they spotted the monkeys observing the helpless leopard at the bottom of the 25ft deep well
Forest officials were called to the scene, and embarked on a rescue mission using a ladder.
After several attempts the leopard was able to grip the ladder, and use it to climb out of the well.
Ranger Devendra Singh Rathore said: ‘We were informed about the incident at around 6am on the morning of 11 June. We immediately sent a team of rescue officials at the spot.
‘The rescue operation lasted for nearly an hour.
Helping hand: Forest officials were called to the scene, and lowered a ladder for the leopard
Mission: The locals and forest officials used a rope to lower the ladder before retiring to a safe distance to allow the leopard to climb up
Safe! Video footage shows the leopard emerging from the well and running off into the jungle
‘It is possible the leopard had fallen into the well at night while following prey. We were able to rescue the wild cat using a ladder.
‘As soon as it came out of the well it ran towards the jungle. It didn’t attack any villager or domestic animal in the village.’
Video footage show the monkeys sitting on the edge of the well and looking at the leopard, which is barely visible in the dark waters below.
In another clip, a dog can be seen running for its life after its sudden encounter with the wild cat as it emerges from the well,
A large group of villagers watched the dramatic moment unfold from the terrace of a nearby house and cheered as soon as it came out of the well.
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