Thaindian News

Mumbai, May 27 (IANS) A leopard strayed into Bollywood actress Hema Malini’s bungalow here Friday and created panic before escaping back to a nearby forest.

The leopard was sighted in the bungalow premises in Malad by a security guard and a domestic help around 7.30 a.m.

The big cat’s presence caused panic in the neighbourhood, said Chief Conservator of Forests (Thane Circle) S.A. Thorat.

“We sent a team of forest officials with tranquilizers and a cage to try and trap the leopard. But it apparently escaped into the forest,” Thorat told IANS.

Hema Malini was not at home at the time and nobody was attacked by the animal.

Thorat assured people that leopards do not normally attack humans unless provoked or if it gets scared.

It generally goes after small prey like dogs and pigs, and can travel 30-50 km in a single night.

The Sanjay Gandhi National Park, spread over around 100 square km in northwest Mumbai, is home to over five dozen leopards and many other wild animals.

There have been at least five instances in recent years of leopards, while chasing preys, getting run over by speeding vehicles on the Western Express and Eastern Express highways.