Valmiki Tiger Reserve Authorities in Rescue Task of Burmese Python
Valmiki Tiger Reserve is the oldest and only tiger reserve in Bihar’s West Champaran District. This pristine location is nestled near the Indo-Nepal border near Valmiki Nagar city. Tucked away on the northwestern edge of India, Valmiki Tiger Reserve offers a jaw-dropping panoramic scenic beauty with a misty silhouette of mountains at the backdrop. Without visiting this place, you can barely imagine the lush greenery and Gandak River adorns the tiger reserve in such a gorgeous manner. The members of the animal kingdom - tigers, leopards, deer, sloth bears, Indian bison, etc. along with a vast variety of avifauna species enhance the beauty of Valmiki Tiger Reserve. Nature admirers and people with a special interest in wildlife must visit this tiger reserve and engage in a jeep safari that offers excellent photographic opportunities and close encounters with Valmiki’s flora and fauna.
In recent reports, a Burmese Python was spotted in a residential area of Bagaha, Bihar, causing panic among the locals. Bagaha, located about 50 km from the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, witnessed a commotion as the massive snake made its way into the area. Upon receiving the alert, the expert snake-catching team from the tiger reserve undertook a challenging rescue operation. After significant effort, they safely captured the python and released it back into the wild. The incident occurred near Airport village in Valmiki Nagar, close to the Indo-Nepal border, where the python was initially discovered in a sugarcane field. Terrified field workers fled the scene upon encountering the giant reptile. Meanwhile, another alarming incident from Bagaha’s Pipra area has emerged, where the carcass of a crocodile, a critically protected aquatic species, was found on the canal bank. These occurrences have left the region with utmost terror, highlighting its rich but challenging biodiversity.
12 Feet Long Python - the Unwelcomed Guest
Upon receiving the information, the forest staff of Valmiki Tiger Reserve undertook a challenging rescue operation to safely capture a python and release it into the reserve's forested area. The snake measured an impressive 12 feet in length. According to Abhishek, the project manager associated with the news agency, the snake was identified as a Burmese python, a species commonly found in regions like Nepal, Bhutan, and Florida.
Valmiki Tiger Reserve Recorded an Increase in the Number of Burmese Pythons
The population of Burmese pythons has seen a rise in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, adding another layer of ecological significance to the area. Classified under the CITES Appendix, this species holds a crucial position in wildlife conservation. Since 2012, the Burmese python has been recognized as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List, emphasizing the need for its protection. Other reptiles among Valmiki’s fauna species include - cobra, king cobra, krait, banded krait, and sand boa.
A Brief Insight on Burmese Python
Burmese pythons, among the largest snakes on Earth, are renowned for their remarkable hunting and feeding techniques. Using their sharp, backward-curving teeth, they latch onto prey, then wrap their muscular bodies around it, tightening with each exhalation until the prey can no longer breathe. Their incredibly flexible jaw ligaments allow them to ingest animals up to five times the width of their own head. As carnivores, they primarily consume small mammals and birds. These massive reptiles can grow over 7 metres long, weigh up to 200 pounds or 90 kg, and have a circumference comparable to a telephone pole. Female Burmese pythons can lay as many as 100 eggs and incubate them for a period of two to three months by contracting their muscles in a rhythmic manner to produce heat. Once hatched, baby pythons use a specialized egg tooth to break free. They remain in their eggs until completing their first skin shed, after which they independently seek their first meal.