Footage of leopard foraging through rubbish near Rajasthan’s Mount Abu sparks outrage | VIDEO

Mount Abu, Rajasthan: A deeply unsettling video of a leopard rummaging through a heap of garbage near Mount Abu has gone viral, triggering widespread concern over the growing impact of human encroachment on wildlife habitats.

The 17-second clip, shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan, shows the leopard sifting through piles of plastic and other waste in search of food, a stark contrast to its image as one of nature’s most powerful and elusive predators.

“What a sad visual. Shri Shivansh Sah recorded this #leopard near Mount Abu. See how our trash is reaching the wild!” Kaswan wrote in his caption. The video also includes a series of on-screen messages urging viewers to take action, stating, “This isn’t the wild… the leopard shouldn’t have to search for food in our waste.”

Another statement reads, “Let’s be better. Protect forests. Manage waste. Give the wild its home back.”

The video ends with the message of “Stop dumping, start caring, adding, “Dispose responsibly. Respect the wild.”

Leopards, typically known for their stealth, strength, and adaptability, are apex predators who play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. That such a creature is now seen scavenging in rubbish underscores the growing overlap between urban sprawl and wildlife territories, a problem conservationists have long warned about.

The clip has garnered thousands of views and continues to be shared widely, with viewers expressing shock, sadness, and anger at the state of waste management near protected areas. Many users demanded stricter penalties for littering and more decisive action from authorities to preserve natural habitats.

“It’s heartbreaking to see this,” one user wrote. “We are not behaving like we're a part of nature and it will be our doom.”

Another user, claiming to hail from Mount Abu, mentioning how she had earlier spotted bears and cows similarly feeding on waste dumps and lamenting the lack of redressal measures from concerned authorities.

Several users critised the government’s unmitigated development projects which similarly jeopardise the environment and its wild inhabitants. Environmentalists have echoed similar sentiments, calling for better enforcement of waste disposal regulations and increased investment in protecting buffer zones around forested areas.