Two leopards had to be rescued after they rolled into a 50ft well during a fierce fight over territory.
But during the tussle, they fell into the well and were heard growling by concerned residents.
The two male leopards fell in to the 50ft hole in Bhatkalwadi, Maharashtra, India, on Friday morning when they were fighting
The team drove 50 miles to reach the remote village as a team of forest officers arrived to assess the situation.
The two leopards – thought to be seven or eight years old – had stopped fighting and climbed on to a ledge together to avoid drowning.
Around 50 people gathered to watch the SOS team try to rescue the animals – which were thought to be seven or eight years old
The team lowered a makeshift cage down the well to the leopards and the crowd shouted encouragement for the beast to get in
As the team of conservationists arrived, a crowd of around 25 had gathered to watch the spectacle unfold.
The large wooden box being used was attached to five long ropes and the crowd of people can be heard shouting encouragement to the leopards to get in.
One of the big cats mustered the energy to crawl into the makeshift elevator and a door was slowly slid across the exit.
One of the leopards seemed unsure about the box and, after having a look at the inside, pushes off it and swims out of sight
The video cuts to a camera that appears to be on the top of the cage.
But after a short while he swims back into view and quickly jumps into the box, before being lifted to safety and taken to Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre
Both leopards were taken to the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre for observation and treatment.austed and in severe shock because of the ordeal and will be kept under observation for a few days till they are deemed fit for release.’