Puri: A large python was rescued after it got trapped in a fishing net cast in the Ratnachira river in Satasahankha area of Odisha’s Puri district on Tuesday.
The python was found trapped when local fishermen, who had laid nets in the river on Monday night, returned to collect their catch in the morning. They found that the fully grown python was struggling inside the net.
Instead of taking any step on their own, the fishermen informed the Snake Helpline, a wildlife rescue group dedicated to the safe handling and relocation of reptiles.
Members of the Snake Helpline team reached the spot and carefully removed the entangled python from the net. The rescue was conducted with great care to avoid injuring the animal. Upon examination, it was found that the snake had not sustained any major injuries or trauma.
The reptile was later identified as a Burmese python. A Snake Helpline member said the python measured several feet in length and appeared to be in healthy condition. “This species is normally found in wetlands, paddy fields. It was believed to have entered the area while following the smell of small animals or birds,” he said.
The rescue team later shifted the python to a suitable natural habitat and released it safely into the wild, away from human settlements. The entire operation drew the attention of curious onlookers and raised awareness about the importance of coexisting with wildlife.
