In the monsoon-fed forests of India, a rescued leopard stood at the edge of a river. Recently released by forest officials, it had one final step between captivity and freedom, crossing the strong current back to its natural home.

Without hesitation, the leopard entered the water and swam with determination. Above, a micro-drone hovered silently, monitoring from a safe distance to make sure the animal’s successful return to the wild.

This moment, captured on video, gained massive attention, not only for its beauty, but for what it revealed about the role of technology in conservation.