In an apparent case of mistaken identity, a leopard darted out from the forest of Kaziranga National Park in India and knocked a man off his bike as he leisurely pedaled in the bike lane.
The leopard, probably thinking the passing cyclist was prey, went on the attack, hitting the man’s left hip, but it quickly retreated back into the woods as the man got up, gathered his bike and rode across the street to meet up with two other cyclists, all the while checking on his left hip.
The footage, captured by a traffic camera, was shared by SWNS.
“Rangers in Kaziranga National Park, India, have now urged commuters not to stop their vehicles in the area for safety reasons, warning them that the road is in a wild area where animals often cross the road,” SWNS wrote.
Also on FTW Outdoors: Leopard shocked by camouflaged hippo in its fishing hole
The Indian leopard is mostly nocturnal and is known to be elusive and solitary, making this encounter a rare one.
Leopards can run up to 36 mph, and the speed was evident in the video.
Incidentally, the leopard population in India in 2020 was reportedly between 12,000 and 13,500. They are found throughout the Indian subcontinent.
[listicle id=1905857]