A leopard that had accidentally fallen into a well in the western Indian state of Maharashtra has been rescued by forest department officials using a cage.

The incident took place at Ambavali in Ratnagiri district on August 24.

According to reports, the villagers on noticing the stranded animal alerted the forest department officials, who immediately arrived at the spot to carry out the rescue operation.

The video shows the animal stranded inside the well. A cage is then lowered down using thick ropes.

The big cat is seen clambering on the cage before climbing inside the cage with great difficulty, after which the door is closed and the cage pulled up.

The animal was later released into its natural habitat.