Thanks to a challenging search and rescue operation in Maharashtra’s Thane, a leopard cub was rescued 48 hours after its head became stuck in a plastic water bottle.

A passerby in Badlapur village, Thane district, observed the leopard with its head trapped in a plastic water can. The man shot a video of the leopard from his car, showing the animal desperately trying to get its head out of the container. However, before rescuers arrived, the leopard had escaped into the woods.

The video can be found here:

Irresponsible behaviour of tourist and people venturing into forest to party is posing a grave threat to the wild animals. A Leopard with its head stuck inside a plastic jar was spotted near Badlapur in Thane district. @MahaForest has begun the search operation. @AUThackeray pic.twitter.com/2O0CIYcSYT

— Ranjeet Shamal Bajirao Jadhav (@ranjeetnature) February 15, 2022

⚠️🚨 #ALERT: #Leopard with its head stuck in #plastic container spotted at #Badlapur in #Thane@MahaForest & #rescue teams @raww_ngo are currently trying to locate the distressed mammal@raww_tweets@tweetsvirat @ranjeetnature @akshay_journo pic.twitter.com/vwfC8YnWXD

— RAWW (@raww_ngo) February 14, 2022

According to a RAWW member who was involved in the rescue mission, which involved 30 people, a ground team searched the area, and volunteers asked villagers to alert officials if the huge cat was spotted.

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A dart was thrown at the leopard, according to RAWW founder Pawan Sharma. Rescuers removed the plastic can after it became unconscious.

He added, “The male leopard is sub-adult. He will be kept under observation for the next 24 to 48 hours before being released in the wild.“