Two pythons rescued

Two pythons were rescued from the National Power Training Institute (NPTI) in Badarpur here by the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit on Saturday. The team rescued a 4-foot-long young python and a larger 5-foot python, found separately on the same day within the campus grounds.

The Wildlife SOS team received a distress call on its 24x7 emergency helpline after NPTI staff spotted the first snake coiled on a slab in the institute’s canteen kitchen. The rapid response team arrived promptly and successfully extricated the python without causing any stress to the animal.

Shortly afterwards, the team was alerted to a second python sighting, this time in the institute’s garden area.

Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said, “As Delhi’s temperature is gradually dropping, snakes are trying to find shelter in human habitations. One of the reasons is that their natural refuge, such as burrows and dens, is degraded due to rapid urbanisation. Snakes cannot regulate their body temperature and depend on these refuges, so they are seeking shelter inside urban infrastructure.”

The rescued pythons are currently under observation and will be released back into their natural habitat once they are deemed fit.

Suvidha Bhatnagar, Director of Communications for Wildlife SOS, acknowledged the importance of public awareness in these rescue efforts. “There is always a lingering fear of and misconception about reptiles, but due to the rescue work carried out by our team, citizens have become more aware of the presence of snakes. These rescue and awareness efforts go hand-in-hand and have helped reduce unnecessary harm to snakes.”