BHUBANESWAR: The Snake Helpline rescued a Burmese python which was reportedly caught by some people at Hiranyapada village in Satyabadi of Puri district late on Monday night.
But mystery shrouds the capture of the snake, a vulnerable species under Wildlife laws, as it was found injured with its mouth stitched.
Acting on a tip-off, founder of Snake Helpline, Bhubaneswar and honorary wildlife warden of Khurda Subhendu Mallik rushed to the village on Monday evening. He was handed over the snake but to his horror, the reptile’s mouth was found to have been sewn on both sides. The four feet long snake, he was told, had been caught in a fishing net at a nearby swamp.
Mallik brought the python to Bhubaneswar and attempted to cut the stitches but failed. The snake’s mouth was finally freed with the help of a surgical knife. The animal was taken to the Veterinary College of OUAT here on Tuesday where examination revealed that it had also suffered jaw dislocation and fracture. The snake has thus been rendered incapable of holding on to prey or eating anything.
“The stitches appeared to be work of an expert hand. The edges of the plastic thread used were melted so as to prevent them from cutting through the mouth of the snake. This has aroused suspicion,” Mallik said adding that he had informed Puri DFO CR Mishra of the rescue.
Doctors at the Veterinary College are also set to conduct surgery on the snake to repair the broken jaw.
“The python is a juvenile and has suffered fracture in the lower mandible. It has been kept under observation and preparation for its surgery is underway,” Prof Indramani Nath said.
Meanwhile, the DFO has started investigation into the incident. A team has been sent to the village to ascertain the facts and necessary action will be taken on the basis of its report, the DFO said.