This is the terrifying moment when a puma sneaks up behind a teenage pastor as he films himself delivering a sermon in the Brazilian forest.
Paulo Henrique Barreto da Silva was preaching passionately when he apparently heard something rustling through the undergrowth behind him.
As he turns to look, he spots a fully-grown puma standing stock-still as it emerges from the edge of the treeline into a small clearing in Vinhedo, Sao Paulo State.
The fearsome feline stalks slowly behind the now-nervous 19-year-old preacher, barely taking its eyes from him as it walks across the clearing just a few feet away.
Da Silva gulps anxiously as he turns to track the apex predator until it seems clear it has no interest in him as a quick meal.
As he keeps a careful eye on the puma, he can be heard on the footage praying under his breath: “Jesus, remove this puma from here. My God, remove this puma from here.”
The big cat spent at least five minutes watching and then walking by the pastor – report local media – before retreating deeper into the forest on 20th August.
Da Silva later told local media that he left the area as soon as the big cat had moved away.
He said: “After that, I left because the Bible says not to test the Lord God.”
Da Silva explained how he went to the woodland – known as Monte das Bananeiras – to film himself preaching to later post on his channel.
He said: “The puma hadn’t appeared yet. So, taking advantage of the fact that I was alone, I thought to myself, I’ll start a live video to talk about the Word of God, preach the Gospel.”
Locals had spotted the same puma running through another area of Vinhedo the night before, local media report.
Vinhedo Municipality, which has confirmed both sightings, says there have never been reports of puma attacks on humans in the region.
Police and wildlife officials advise people to remain calm and keep their distance if they spot a puma.
Vinhedo Municipality said in a statement: “The presence of pumas in the vicinity should not generate panic.
“These animals play an important role in the local ecosystem’s balance, helping to control the populations of natural prey, such as rodents, deer, and capybaras.
“By acting responsibly and respectfully, we can ensure a safe environment for both residents and wildlife.”
Experts say pumas are common in the region but were not previously seen so often.
Biologist Luciano Lima told local media: “These appearances are a result of habitat loss, as the natural areas where they used to exist, in this case, the Atlantic Forest in the interior of Sao Paulo State, have been significantly diminished, making it harder for them to find prey.
“This forces these animals to travel more and, eventually, come closer to areas with a higher human presence, which they naturally tend to avoid.”
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