Members of a local snake helpline rescued a serpent from a residential area here.
A huge snake was spotted by residents of the DRDA colony here on Saturday night, following which they informed the snake helpline.
A team of helpline members headed by Tapan Sethi reached the spot and rescued the snake, which is said to be a rare species of Burmese python (Python Bivittatus).
The python is around 7.5 feet long and weighs 15 kg.
“We had informed Forest Department officials, and with their help the snake was released to the wild,” Tapan Sethi said. The snake was released to a nearby forest on Sunday morning.
“The forest cover in the nearby region is depleting, as a result of which the snakes and other wild animals are transgressing into the residential areas. A couple of days ago, a dead bear was found near a temple. We are creating awareness and urging people to inform forest officials and not to hurt the wild animals. It is unfortunate that some people are attacking them out of fear,” forest official Bhaskar Behera said.
Notably, a python had also been rescued from the Samabayguda colony here three days ago. The python was 8 feet long and weighed about 20 kg. It may be mentioned that around 14 pythons have been rescued from the town and its adjoining areas in less than a month.