Forest department officials have rescued a six-year-old leopard caught in a snare set up for hunting wild animals in Sri Lanka.

The incident took place in the forest area behind the row of estate houses at Kenilworth Estate in Ginigathena on July 12.

The video shows the leopard amid a clearing in the forest growling at the rescue officials.

One person can be seen loading the tranquillizer gun to sedate the big cat.

Following this, they shoot the dart at the leopard.

Later they move the sedated feline into a trap cage to transport the animal.

According to reports, the big cat was weighed and medically administered for injuries.

The leopard was taken in for further medical evaluation at the Nallathanniya Wildlife Office.

Sources suggest the wildlife officials in the Nallathanniya area released the leopard into the Nallathanniya Samanala Natural Reserve.

Reports say a project to remove snares from the tea estates has already been launched.

Wildlife officials have managed to rescue some of the leopards that had been caught in the tea plantation in the past, while a black panther and several other leopards were not so lucky to survive the ordeal.