Indian rock python rescued from Raisina forest near Sohna

A nine-foot-long male Indian Rock Python was rescued from a village in Raisna forest near Sohna on Thursday.

Residents of Tikli village informed the wildlife department after they spotted the snake near farm houses.

“After medical examination, the Indian Rock Python was released into its natural habitat in an hour. It was found to be in good health and there were no external injuries,” Sunil Kumar, wildlife inspector who rescued the snake, said.

He also said that as the snake was spotted in the vicinity of a civilian area, it was rescued at the earliest so as to prevent it from coming under attack from residents.

“As our three-member team reached the spot around 9.30am, it found the python coiled on the ground and a huge crowd of curious onlookers gathered around it. Our team took control of the situation swiftly and rescued the snake before the residents could mount an attack on it. It took us around 20 minutes to rescue it,” Kumar said.

After getting word that python had been spotted, the wildlife department asked residents not to panic as a rescue team was on the way. It also asked residents not to hurt the reptile.

Read I Gurgaon: Rescued Indian rock python in good health, set free in Aravallis

“While Indian Rock pythons are non-venomous, one must watch out for their bite. Hence, residents are advised to stay out of harm’s way,” Vinod Kumar, conservator of wildlife, south Haryana.

Gurgaon is home to a range of snake species that are extremely venomous. These include cobra, common krait and scale vipers, among others. Relatively harmless and non-venomous snake species such as Common Sand Boa, Red Sand Boa, Wolf Snake, Rat Snake, Cat snake, Royal Snake and Kukri among others.

Snakes have been regularly sighted in the city of late and the wildlife department rescued a number of them last year.

On October 22, a 11-feet-long Indian Rock Python was rescued from an air force station on Sohna road.

On October 24, a 15-feet-long Indian Rock Python was rescued from Sector 12, near a residential complex.