A heartbreaking video showing how human negligence is affecting wildlife has gone viral. Shared by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Parveen Kaswan, the 17-second clip shows a leopard rummaging through a heap of garbage near Mount Abu in Rajasthan in search of food.
Known for their strength and stealth, leopards are among nature’s top predators — but this video shows a grim reality. The big cat can be seen sniffing through plastic waste and trash, highlighting how shrinking habitats and poor waste management are forcing wild animals into human zones.
“What a sad visual. Shri Shivansh Sah recorded this #leopard near Mount Abu. See how our trash is reaching the wild! Let’s be better, protect forests, manage waste, and give the wild its home back,” Kaswan wrote while sharing the video.
The clip sparked outrage online, with users calling for stricter anti-littering rules and better protection for animal habitats. Many blamed rapid urbanisation and deforestation for displacing wildlife.
One user commented, “Very sad. We won’t change our civic sense unless huge penalties are imposed.” Another wrote, “Their habitats are being taken away in the name of development.”
A resident of Mount Abu added, “I’ve seen bears, cows, and leopards all at the dumping yard. Authorities do nothing — it’s heartbreaking.”
As per the latest government data, India’s leopard population stands at 13,874, growing at 1.08% annually between 2018 and 2022. Madhya Pradesh hosts the largest number of leopards (3,907), followed by Maharashtra (1,985), Karnataka (1,879), and Tamil Nadu (1,070).