Leopard chases helpless puppy in Maharashtra. CCTV captures an unreal twist

A leopard was caught on CCTV in Maharashtra sparing a puppy it had just caught. The footage has stirred debate over the animal's restraint over its prey.A leopard was seen sparing a tiny puppy that it almost caught in Maharashtra.A leopard that instilled fear in parts of Maharashtra’s Palghar, was caught on CCTV chasing a group of dogs before catching a tiny puppy, and then unexpectedly letting it go.The incident took place around midnight in a residential area. The leopard was spotted in the nearby areas over the past few days, with several domestic animals said to have fallen prey to it.The CCTV footage showed the leopard approaching a group of dogs near a temple in the area. Sensing danger, the larger dogs quickly ran away, leaving two small puppies behind.The leopard chased them and managed to catch one of them. For a few tense moments, the pup remained in its grasp, making an attack seem imminent. But instead of killing it, the leopard holds on briefly before releasing the puppy and walking away. The tiny animal then escaped unharmed.Watch the video here: The entire encounter was captured on the temple's CCTV camera. The footage has since gone viral on social media, where the leopard's unexpected behaviour has intrigued people about animal instincts and emotions.Several social media users interpreted the leopard's actions as an act of compassion or empathy. While such interpretations cannot be established from the footage alone, the encounter offers a striking glimpse into the unpredictable behaviour of wild animals.For a few seconds, the puppy appeared to be at the mercy of a predator. Then, just as unexpectedly, the leopard walked away and left it alive.(With inputs from Mohammad Hussain Khan)- EndsPublished By: Srimoyee ChowdhuryPublished On: Sep 1, 2026 08:47 IST