A leopard was filmed approaching a group of people in an unusual sighting.
Surprising images that appeared online yesterday show a leopard approaching a group of people and playing with them. This unusual behavior of a wild animal has raised concern among wildlife experts and forest officials, with some speculating that the leopard may have been hand-reared and thus accustomed to the presence of humans.
In India, the private possession of endangered cats, including leopards, is prohibited.
In the video, which was allegedly filmed in the Tirthan Valley in Himachal Pradesh, the big cat was seen approaching a group of people who were on the side of the road. As some people were rushing to escape, one stopped as the leopard approached and tried to playfully climb it. Then another man was filmed playing with the big cat in a scene that has drawn attention on social media.
Images of the leopard’s strange behavior started going viral yesterday and gained more attention after they were posted on Twitter by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan.
“He is not able to read the behaviors of this leopard. Behaving strangely,” he wrote, also criticizing the behavior of people around the leopard. “However, people are not behaving better. Videos have been circulating since night. From HP.”
I cannot read the behaviors of this leopard. Behaving strangely However, people are not behaving better. Videos circulating since night. From HP. pic.twitter.com/5XNNkH4XLH
– Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) January 14, 2021
In the comment section, Kaswan added that the leopard looked domesticated and may have escaped from some farm.
This theory was supported by IFS Senior Officer Ramesh Pandey. “This is possible in the case of hand-raised animals. Further investigation is needed. The trend of keeping wild animals as pets can result in such unusual recoveries or surprising sightings,” wrote Pandey, calling the trend “concerning.”
This is possible in the case of hand-raised animals. Needs more research. The tendency to keep wild animals as pets can result in such unusual recoveries or surprising sightings. Unfortunate and worrying.
– Ramesh Pandey (@rameshpandeyifs) January 14, 2021
In addition, he clarified that keeping leopards as pets is a crime in India.
The images of the playful leopard have been seen thousands of times on social networks, where it has left many stunned. Several people also criticized the group filmed playing with the animal as “dumb” and “dumb”.
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