Dehradun, Nov.9 ( Odisha.in ): Chandan Jani, of Berhampur, Orissa, who is a student, of XI-M.Sc Course in the Wildlife Institute of India and was an associate of Subhendu Mallick, well known leader of snake rescue team in Bhubaneswar have successfully rescued a Ferocious King Cobra in Dheradun.
According to information, a few days ago at about 08.45 P.M. , Chandan and his colleague got a call at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun that a snake had got into someone’s cow-shed at Chandrabani, near the WII Campus. When they got there, the snake was found under a pile of firewood and sacks of cattle-feed.
It was a King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah). As it was neither feasible nor safe to handle the snake in the narrow confines of the cowshed, which was barely 1.5 metres in width, Chandan and his colleague manoeuvred the snake into the open. Once outside, they handled the snake and attempted to get it into a bag.
However, as the largest bag they had was not large enough, it was eventually placed in a tin trunk. The snake was very aggressive and active, despite the cool weather (c.15°C). It was transferred to an adequately large bag the next morning.
It is fortunate that the villagers of Chandrabani had the sense to contact Chandan and his colleague, upon finding the snake, rather than kill it, as is the usual practice.
The snake was estimated to be approximately 11ft long and about 7-8kgs in weight.
The snake was released the next day in the Asarori Block of the Rajaji National Park buffer, where this species is known to occur. This spot was chosen due to it’s relative proximity to the capture-site, the availability of water and the fact that this species has been seen here before.
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