Gearing into quick action for the safety of the animal and people, the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit rescued an eight-foot-long Indian Rock python from Noida. This species is found in the tropical regions in the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia.
Sharing details about this rescue operation, the Wildlife SOS issued a statement which said that on September 2 (Thursday) night, an eight-foot-long Indian Rock Python was spotted winding its way across a busy intersection in Techno Boulevard, Noida.
The reptile caused a sense of fear among the late night commuters who instead of trying to harm the creature called the Wildlife SOS emergency helpline (9871963535). Following this, a two-member rescue team was dispatched immediately to the location with all the necessary rescue gear.
Talking to India Narrative, Arinita Sandilya, Manager, Press and Media, said: “We receive a lot of calls about reptile sightings in Delhi NCR during the monsoon season. What is really noteworthy and heartening is that in the past 10 years of our operation, the calls have increased as people instead of harming the animals, including those they are scared of, prefer them to be rescued and relocated.”
On arrival, the team of rescuers found the python having made its way to a tree on the road divider, coiling itself along the branches. Climbing the tree, one rescuer safely brought the reptile who is at present under observation. Once deemed fit, the python will be released in its natural habitat.
The Indian Rock python is one of the species of python found in India and Sandilya told India Narrative it is fairly common in north India. “It is arboreal and may have come down the trees in search of food like rats and frogs which are in abundance during the monsoon,” she remarked.
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Throwing more light on this species, the Deputy Director, Special Projects, Wildlife SOS, Wasim Akram stated in the release: “Indian rock pythons are often mistaken to be venomous snakes due to their appearance. In reality, the Indian rock python is a non-venomous, docile reptile that often becomes a victim of man-animal conflict. The python could have been gravely injured by the onslaught of vehicles that would have not noticed the snake slithering across the road. We are thankful to the concerned citizens who took timely action and notified Wildlife SOS.”
Indian Rock python is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), which regulates the international trade of wildlife species.
