Hema Malini welcomes leopard that strayed into her Goregaon house

A stray leopard from Sanjay Gandhi National Park scaled the high walls and strayed into the bungalow of MP-actress Hema Malini yesterday. While the leopard dodged the forest department officials, Malini was happy to welcome him into her house at Dindoshi in Malad.

“We got a call from her house staff (as the actress is abroad) about a leopard lazing around in the sun on her lawn. The animal seemed to be enjoying the fact that  there was nobody to disturb him (as the bungalow’s heavily guarded). We requested that nobody venture out of the house,” said a forest department official, who was still trying to nab the leopard as we went to press, as it ran amock from one end of the property to the other.

Maharashtra forest minister Patangrao Kadam confirmed the incident and said that he has sought a complete report about the incident from senior forest department officials. “We will find out how the leopard strayed into the bungalow,” Kadam said.

Meanwhile Hema, conveyed from the US that the animal was most welcome in her house. “I am very happy that he has come into my house. I welcome him and request that nobody should harm him even one bit,” says the actress, sounding  quite relaxed.

“This incident shows the extent we have encroached into the animals’ space. We have taken over their territory and that is why they are straying into ours. They have nowhere to go. I have requested the forest department officials to ensure that there’s not a single scratch on the leopard’s body.  One should deal with them in a sympathetic way,” the actress added.