Leopard attacks forest official during rescue in Karnataka; watch video

A leopard injured in a car accident on a highway in Davangere, Karnataka turned on forest officials during a rescue mission, leaving one official knocked to the ground. The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral.

The rescue team was dispatched after the injured leopard was spotted on the road following its collision with a vehicle. Sustained during the accident, the animal was unable to move normally. Forest department personnel arrived at the scene in response to the report and aimed to control the situation, securing the leopard for transportation to a veterinary facility.

The team managed to tranquilize the leopard; however, the sedative had not fully taken effect at the time of the attack. In the video, the leopard is seen suddenly lunging at the official, knocking him to the ground before the colleagues intervened. Using a stick to distract the animal, their colleague managed to escape the attack and regain his footing. The leopard eventually retreated to the grassy area beside the highway.

Despite the sudden interruption, the officials managed to complete the rescue operation. The leopard was eventually secured and taken to a hospital for treatment of its injuries, which were sustained during the highway accident. The incident underscores the inherent dangers faced by wildlife rescue personnel, especially when the tranquillization process is not yet complete.