Nerves of steel: Chilling moment brave 12yo casually traps wild leopard in room

The boy was playing on his phone at his dad’s workplace when the wild animal casually entered the room. 

A brave 12-year-old boy has managed to trap a wild leopard in a room while escaping, all without breaking a sweat (or forgetting his phone.)

Mohit Ahire from Malegaon, Maharashtra in India, was attending a wedding ceremony at a reception hall where his father worked.

Sitting alone in the front office charging his phone, the 12-year-old was startled when an unexpected guest walked in - a wild leopard. 

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Surprise, surprise! Picture: Reddit

“There was hardly any space between the leopard and me”

It was 7am on March 5th when the 12yo sat on the bench near the booking office at the wedding venue. 

The door was wide open, the perfect invitation for the leopard, who casually strolled into the room. 

“The leopard was so close,” the boy told the Times of India. “There was hardly any space between the leopard and me.”

Gripping the phone in his left hand, the boy slowly slipped out of his seat and walked to the door, keeping a close eye on the leopard.

“It walked into the inner cabin of the office right in front of me,” he recalled, adding he was petrified but didn’t want to alert the wild animal. 

“I was scared, but I quietly got off the bench and sneaked out of the office,” he said. 

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As he slipped out of the room, Mohit softly closed and locked the door, then made a run for it, speeding out of the building towards his dad - all while holding his phone. 

Little did the boy know that a search team was actively trying to locate the five-year-old male leopard, which had escaped and had just been trapped.

Other residents of the area reported seeing the leopard walking through the streets, but police were unable to capture it.  

However, once Mohit was able to run free from the leopard, he immediately informed his father of the wild animal in the building, who told authorities of its whereabouts. 

“Our personnel were in the neighbourhood when the boy trapped the leopard in the wedding half’s office,” said Viabhav Hiray, a Malegaon range forest officer.

“We immediately called a team from Nashik city. Later, the five-year-old male leopard was tranquilised and reduced.” 

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“Leopard casually walked in like it had an appointment”

The child’s brave and swift movements were remarkable, as people online marvelled at his “nerves of steel.”

“This kid is going places,” someone said. “I don't think a lot of adults could be as calm in this situation.”

“That child survival mode is better than any adults I've ever seen,” said another. “He was so smart with it, immaculate response,” wrote a third.  

“I am so impressed by the boy's calm and deliberate action to survive.” 

Others were taken aback by the calm demeanour of the wild animal. 

“Leopard casually walked in like it had an appointment,” someone laughed. 

“It makes me think it's been there before,” someone added. “Even cats are cautious when entering a new place and sniff around all stealthily.”

Originally published as Nerves of steel: Chilling moment brave 12yo casually traps wild leopard in room