THE STATESMAN (India) 08 February 05 Python puts brakes on traffic
Durgapur: This six-foot wonder was recovered not from any jungle, forest or woods. But the python was found along the NH-2 stretch near City Centre in Durgapur this afternoon.
The reptile brought traffic to a standstill when people saw it on the NH-2. A passer-by Mr Suprio Joardar, who also happened to be a retired army man finally trapped it in a gunny bag. This baby python about one-and-a-half month old, had found a home in the deserted area by the local Piyala village where the state-owned Durgapur Projects Limited had recently introduced heavy machinery to remove earth in order to set up its proposed seventh power generation unit. Forest officials said the reptile had to quit the place because the place’s ecology was disturbed by the use of heavy machines.
Guesses are that may be its parents has also shifted from the location as the forest officials were not able to trace the baby python’s parents after its recovery.
As for the truckers and bus passengers, they were quite excited with the sudden appearance of the new guest on NH-2 stretch in broad daylight. Mr Joardar said: “I was accustomed to trapping snakes and such reptiles because I had to spend few years in Car Nicobor during my service.”
The python will reamin in the ADFO, Durgapur, Mr Tapan Roy’s care. He said: “The baby after primary nursing, will be released in the Garh jungle in Kanksa. It will take some time as it is too small to be left free. Its eyes have not properly developed.”
Python puts brakes on traffic