Viral Video Of Leopard 'Playing' With People Raises Concerns

Viral Video Of Leopard 'Playing' With People Raises Concerns

Surprising footage that surfaced online shows a leopard approaching a group of people and playing with them.
This unusual behaviour from a wild animal has raised concerns among wildlife experts and forest officials, with some speculating that the leopard may have been hand-reared and therefore used to the presence of humans.

In India, the private possession of endangered cats, including leopards, is prohibited.
In the video, which was reportedly filmed at the Tirthan Valley in Himachal Pradesh, the big cat was seen walking up to a group of people standing on a roadside. While some people scrambled to get away, one stood still as the leopard approached and tried to climb him playfully.

This theory was seconded by senior IFS officer Ramesh Pandey. "This is possible in case of hand reared animals. Needs further investigation. The trend of keeping wild animals as pet can result in such unusual recoveries or surprising sightings," Mr Pandey wrote, calling the trend "worrisome".