Leopard gets into a spot of bother... by falling down a well: Amazing rescue in India

• Leopard saved after falling down a well on food hunt in northeast India

By Sara Malm

A young leopard found itself in a deep trouble, after it fell down a well in northeast India.
The poor animal was discovered trapped in the pit at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, India. 
Forest officials, temple staff and volunteers all rallied around the narrow well to save the leopard and bring it back to the surface.

Not so s-well:The young leopard fell down the well at a temple in north east India

According to locals, the leopard had been scouring for food at the temple fell down the narrow well.
Forest officials were called to the scene where they were forced to tranquilize the animal before climbing a ladder and going down the pit.

They tied a rope around the groggy leopard and it was successfully pulled out of the hole.
After drying off the animal, forest officials transported it to a safe place for the leopard to recover before it is to be released into the wild.

Saviors: Forest officials and volunteers gather around the narrow well to prepare for the rescue mission

Trapped: The leopard stares into the light from the well as forest officials get ready to tranquilize it

Spot on: A member of the rescue team climbed down the well and after securing the animal with a rope, the leopard could be hauled out of the hole

The Indian leopard is smaller than its African relative, with the Indian leopard normally between 4ft 2in and 4ft 8in long, compared to the sub-Saharan leopard, which can grow to be 5ft 4in long.
The leopard can be found across the Indian subcontinent, but as it is under threat from poachers and habitat loss is rarely found outside protected areas.
It is currently classified as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) but as a result of the downward population trend it may soon qualify for a ‘Vulnerable‘ status.

Knocked out: Officers lift the tranquilized leopard onto a truck following the successful rescue mission

Safe and sound: A rescuer pets the knocked-out leopard as it is placed in a cage before being taken to recover before its release back into the wild