Villagers with the help of Indian forestry department officials have caught a tiger that had wandered into their village and released it back in an area less populated by humans.

The animal appeared out of a jungle, crossed paddy fields and then made its way to Kishorimohanpur Village in the Kultali area.

Frightened villagers informed the forestry department who sent a team to capture the big cat using tranquilizer guns.

After keeping the tiger at the Sunderban Forest Office for 12 hours, officials loaded the animal onto a boat and took it to an area not inhabited by humans.

With a mighty leap, the tiger jumped off the boat and into the river and swam ashore.