A leopard that spooked kids as they played cricket attacked rangers sent to catch it.
The spotted big cat was seen hiding under a shed as the children had their match.
Other locals noticed the leopard and alerted officials.
They then watched and filmed from their roofs as the hapless officials set up nets to catch it.
But they were viciously attacked as they tried to snare the dangerous animal.
The big cat suddenly darted from a thicket in an empty lot and sank its teeth into one ranger’s arm.
It let go, only to pounce on another official, knocking him to the ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India.
It then chased a third before changing course, prompting several bystanders to make a mad dash down the street.
Footage taken from another angle shows how locals panned the hapless rangers’ efforts.
“What are you doing?” shouted one man as the leopard brought down the second official.
“Look, he’s running away with a gun in his hands,” exclaimed another onlooker as the animal chased the third warden.
“He can’t run fast!” observed a third.
According to reports, the leopard was eventually tranquillised and released into the bush a few hours later.
It is not clear if any of the officials suffered serious injuries.
The area where the drama unfolded lies not far from the famous Corbett National Park.
The protected area houses several mammals – including tigers, bears, and elephants – as well as reptiles, amphibians, and bird species.
