A staggering video shows the moment villagers in India take selfies and try to ride a sick leopard wandering around a forest.
The shocking footage shows the animal roaming near the village of Eklera, Dewas District, Madhya Prades State, India, when a group of locals gather around it earlier this month.
They can then be seen petting it, playing and taking selfies with the ill animal, after which one person – wearing red trousers in the video – even tries to ride it.
Media revealed that the group told how they were terrified when they saw the predator, but suspected something was wrong when they saw its sluggish movements.
They reportedly decided to have some fun with the dizzy animal while waiting for rescue crews after a villager reported the case to the forest department.
Soon after a rescue team took the leopard – reportedly aged around two years old – to the Vanvihar National Park and Zoo in the city of Bhopal for treatment.
Forest Officer Santosh Shukla said: “The condition of the leopard was critical. On top of this people were troubling him.
“We removed the villagers from there. After this, a vet was called from the town of Mhow in the Indore district.”
The video outraged netizens after it was posted on social media platforms on Tuesday, 29th August.
Twitter user ‘Rishi Raj’ said: “The poor guy is scared, that’s why he is calm, meet him alone, all arrogance will go away. Literally ridiculous, shameful.”
Then user ‘Mukesh Joshi’ commented: “Ruthless masses. Should be kept behind bars.”
And ‘Sam Xacch’ added: “Cruel people should be punished.”
Shukla revealed that the leopard is currently being treated at the zoo and is expected to make a full recovery.
