MUMBAI: Discarded plastic items like rubber bands, poly-fiber nets are becoming a dangerous menace for snakes that are trying to survive in the concrete jungle. Recently, a two-and-half feet long sand boa was found in distress near the
Vikhroli mangroves as a thick elastic band tightly encircled the upper body of the snake.
"The state forest department was informed by a local citizen about the troubled sand boa due to the rubber band. When we went to the site recently, it was found that band had the snake in a vice like grip over a considerable period of time. As a result, a section of its outer skin was damaged," said the honorary
wildlife warden,
Sunish Subramanian.
The forest department then referred the sand boa to the wildlife veterinarian, Dr Manish Pingle, for its treatment.
"The boa must have accidentally slithered its mouth through the rubber band, which then got stuck around its body. Luckily, after cutting out the band, the snake recuperated for a few days, and then was safely released in the wild. We want to appeal to the public not to carelessly throw such plastic items into the creek or in forested areas which you may visit such places on a picnic," said Subramanian.
He further added that earlier this month,
Plant and Animals Welfare Society (PAWS-Mumbai) had also rescued a rat snake which was trapped inside a discarded fishing net near the sea creek close to Airoli. "The rat snake had completely entangled itself in the net, and as a result of struggle to free itself, it has injured a part of its lateral side," he said.
Earlier this week, a black coloured stork was in news in Delhi, after being photographed with its beak trapped by a tight plastic ring. Regional forest officials and activists had then successfully traced the bird in distress to remove the foreign object and free its beak.
