At 10.30 am on Tuesday, he was finally rescued.

Large crowds had gathered to stare at the leopard who had been trapped for eight hours in a net cast by poachers. He lay helpess on the Mumbai-Goa highway near Ratnagiri, unable to move his limbs.

Rescue officials tranquilized him, and have moved him to an undisclosed location.

Forest officials will register a case against unknown people.

In the last 10 days, three leopards have been killed in this part of Maharashtra.