Forest department officials were injured after they tried to capture a leopard hidden in hay.

One of the officials poked the big cat with a stick - prompting it to jump out and attack the men.

They tried to subdue it with a bedframe - but the leopard retaliated, snapping at the man in Bhilwara district, in northern India's Rajasthan on March 13.

A local source said: "The men ganged up on the wild animal and tried to cover it with a cloth but it was too strong and ferocious to be contained so easily.

"After attacking the forest department official, it fled away from the spot.

"Locals also were seemingly scared with the big cat roaming about freely as it was chased by a dog.

"Despite their attempts, they were unable to succeed, and the leopard injured the forest official, Mulchand Sharma, while they were trying to rescue him.

"Following this, a local, along with two others used sticks, nets and bedsteads to capture the leopard.

"Even this attempt was unsuccessful as the leopard ran into the forest."