Bhubaneswar: In a rare development, as many as 25 cobra hatchlings emerged from the eggs through artificial hatching in Bhubaneswar.
The artificial hatching was arranged by Snake Helpline after the cobra that had laid the eggs in Ratha Road area in Odisha capital was rescued and released in a natural habitat outside the city.
The Snake Helpline team is excited over the captive breeding success.
According to Snake Helpline, one Bibhuti Bhushan Das spotted a cobra in his godown in Ratha Road area on June 5 and imediately informed them. Arun Kumar Baral of Snake Helpline reached the spot and found the cobra snake and some eggs. As he rescued the snake and put it in a bag, the godown staff urged him to take away the eggs too.
While the snake was released in a natural habitat outside the city, the eggs were taken Snake Helpline office and arrangements made for artificial hatching.
The eggs started hatching on Tuesday and the process was complete on Wednesday. All the 25 eggs have hatched and the hatchlings emerged, said Snake Helpline general secretary Subhendu Mallik said. In view of the extreme heat, the baby snakes will be released into a natural habitat in the evening in the presence of forest officials.
Usually snakes lay their eggs in a place which has the right temperature and humidity for hatching and is also a secured place from other preys. Snakes do not hatch the eggs but only guard them. A cobra egg usually takes around 45 to 60 days to hatch. During this period, if the eggs are disturbed or touched, then they do not hatch. Extra care of the eggs is required to hatch, he said.
Advising people to keep their gardens and surroundings clean, he said the possibility of a cobra or krait laying eggs in the vicinity increases if cleanliness is not maintained. Subsequently when the eggs hatch, then the danger quotient for the house and their neighbours increases.
Mallik has urged people to contact Snake Helpline or forest officials at the sight of snake eggs instead of destroying them.
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