Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Alex Cope, Agency:Central European News

Video Credit: CEN/soyosorno

This is the moment a huge puma is rescued after becoming stuck in a treetop in the middle of a lake as the fearsome beast is sedated and caged. 

The incident happened near the town of Mantilhue, located in the commune of Rio Bueno in the Los Rios Region in southern Chile.

The rescue reportedly happened after locals called the authorities about a puma which was trapped in the branches of a tree in the shore of the Lake Puyehue.  

Video Credit: CEN/ElPuyehuino.cl-Iván Reyes

An extensive operation was reportedly mounted to bring the big cat down. 

Police and firefighters reportedly placed a net around the tree to stop the creature from falling while officials were drafted in a bid to sedate the puma.

Daniel Escobar, deputy director of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) of the Los Rios Region (SAG) told local media: “For this activity, the team on the ground made the decision to sedate the animal. Once sedated, it was taken down from the tree and moved as safely as possible.”

Picture Credit: CEN/@CarabLosRios, CEN/@sagchile, CEN/soyosorno & CEN/ElPuyehuino.cl-Iván Reyes

The expert added that “reports of attacks from these carnivores (pumas) on animals are quite frequent.”

The animal was transferred to the Austral University of Chile, where it was confirmed to be in good health.

Further tests will now take place before it is returned to the wild.

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