A 10-feet long python triggered panic at Longai Tea garden in Tripura on Tuesday morning. Dwellers of the Tea garden noticed the python at Nachghar premises of the Tea Garden.
Amidst chaos, some of the youths of the Tea Garden managed to catch the python and informed the local Forest Department personnel. With the help of local people, forest personnel released the serpent at nearby Patharia hill areas.
According to the Forest Department personnel, the 10-feet long python was an adult serpent and it weighted around 40 kg.
“Apparently it seems that the python crawled in to human habitation in search of food, mainly domesticated ducks, chicken etc”, Forest Department sources commented.
Notably, few days ago, a rare green colour Viper snake was spotted at a residence in Teliamura area. Also, monkeys and wild elephants frequently stroll into human habitation and cause havoc by destroying crops and dwellings.
In all the cases, dearth of food in forest areas is cited as prime reason behind ‘unwanted’ visits by the wild animals and reptiles in populated areas.
According to experts, food scarcity in Tripura forest areas is occurring due to mindless tree felling. Wood smugglers are active in forest areas and they are destroying forests mindlessly. This has affected the eco-system as well as making the animal habitation vulnerable. Despite several preventive measures, tree felling by timber smugglers is rampant.
“With Forest eco-system is fast deteriorating. The animals and reptiles are in danger due to food crisis. To survive, they stroll into human habitations for food”, Forest personnel opined.
Spotting python near human habitation at Longai Tea garden is another instance of precarious condition of Tripura Forest areas, Tea garden dwellers commented.