Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

Video Credit: AsiaWire

This is the moment a roaring leopard has its paw caught in a trap before being coaxed into a cage with a stick where rescuers can finally cut it free.

The startling incident occurred in the village of Lavangwadi in the Ratnagiri area located in the state of Maharashtra in west-central India and was captured by an onlooker.

In the video, forest officials can be seen goading the leopard with a stick to try and make it run into the cage they have placed in front of it.

Pictures Credit: AsiaWire

Reports state the leopard was caught in a “pig trap” and the big cat appears to try to run away but cannot do so.

The forest rangers then goad the leopard (Panthera pardus) into running at them and into the cage and they then drop the cage door immediately.

The leopard can be seen scratching at the officials whilst in the cage as other rangers appear to begin cutting it free from the trap with onlookers applauding.

Another clip shows the roaring leopard snarling at onlookers whilst in the cage.

Reports state the forest officials, who had been called to the scene by the villagers, later released the leopard back into its natural habitat.

The leopard is listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN( Red List because leopard populations are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation.