A viral video of a leopard surrounded by people in a village in Madhya Pradesh has been circulating on social media. The video has been shared with the claim that the leopard is drunk after drinking country liquor.
Fact Check
India TV Fact Check investigated the video and found that the claim is misleading. The leopard is actually sick, not drunk. The video shows a leopard that is clearly unwell. It is walking slowly and its fur is matted. A group of people can be seen surrounding the leopard, some of them even touching it.
Screenshots of video going viral on social media platform
India TV Fact Check found that the video was originally posted on Twitter by the news agency IANS. The IANS post said that the video was taken in the village of Iklela in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh. The leopard was found wandering around the village and was surrounded by people. Some people were even riding on the leopard's back.
Original information of the video found on news agency IANS
The post by news agency IANS read, "In a viral video, some people from Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district were seen walking with a leopard, which looked clearly ill. In the video, the leopard interacted with more than a dozen people." surrounded and one of them is seen sitting on the leopard's back. Villagers were seen playing with the animal and taking selfies."
India TV Fact Check also found that the leopard was eventually rescued by forest officials. The leopard was taken to a zoo in Bhopal for treatment.
News of sick leopard found on India TV website
PTI has also given the same information, "A rescue operation is being carried out by the forest officials after a leopard was found in an exhausted state by the local people in Iklera village of Madhya Pradesh."
Conclusion
The claim that the leopard is drunk is false. The leopard is actually sick and was surrounded by people who were not taking its condition seriously.
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