A leopard that wandered into a town in northern India burst into a liquor store and attacked an employee before becoming trapped inside the business, leading to a five-hour search that ended when wildlife officials tranquilized the animal, as reported by Breitbart.
The incident occurred Monday in Todaraisingh, where surveillance footage captured the leopard rushing into the liquor shop and immediately attacking 25-year-old shopkeeper Sanjay Gurjar.
Video later obtained by the Sun showed the employee escaping the animal before running out of the building.
After the initial encounter, the leopard remained inside the store, where it roamed through what appeared to be a stock room.
Security footage showed the animal investigating the shelves, knocking over boxes and sending bottles of alcohol crashing to the floor while the shop stood empty.
Gurjar managed to escape despite suffering injuries during the attack. According to reports, he sustained injuries to his hand, shoulder, and nose.
As he fled the building, he was able to pull down the shop’s metal shutter, trapping the leopard inside until authorities could respond.
“I somehow pushed the leopard away and ran towards the exit,” Gurjar said. “As I ran, I pulled the shutter down. Then I lost consciousness.”
Surveillance footage from outside the store also showed the leopard confronting another man moments before entering the liquor shop.
According to the report, 40-year-old Fateh Lal Koli was attacked as the animal moved through the area.
Earlier that same morning, the leopard also injured a forest volunteer identified as Rakesh after entering the town shortly before 9:00 a.m. The extent of injuries suffered by Koli and Rakesh was not disclosed.
The attacks prompted wildlife officials to launch an extensive search for the animal that lasted approximately five hours.
During that time, authorities worked to locate and safely capture the leopard while minimizing additional danger to residents.
Wildlife specialists eventually found the animal at about 2:00 p.m. and subdued it using a tranquilizer. According to the report, the leopard was identified as a five-year-old male.
Officials said the animal will be returned to the wild following its capture.
Encounters between leopards and people occasionally occur in parts of India where expanding towns and villages border forested habitat.
Wildlife officials are often called to respond when big cats stray into populated areas in an effort to protect both residents and the animals.
The surveillance footage from Todaraisingh captured the chaotic moments as the leopard entered the liquor store, attacked the shopkeeper, and then wandered through the business after the employee escaped.
The video also documented the damage caused inside the shop as the animal knocked merchandise from shelves while moving through the building.
No additional attacks were reported after the leopard was contained inside the store.
Authorities completed the operation later that afternoon by tranquilizing the animal and preparing it for release back into its natural habitat.
