ISLAMIC REPUBLIC NEWS AGENCY (Tehran, Iran) 20 April 05 12 smuggled giant pythons seized in E Iran, transferred to zoo
Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan prov: Some 12 python snakes smuggled to Iran from Pakistan were seized by local police several days ago and are currently held in a zoo in the provincial city of Zabul, north of the provincial capital of Zahedan, a local police official said here on Tuesday.
An official with Meqdad police headquarters, Naser Akbarzadeh, told IRNA that the police found the valuable snakes, Royal pythons, in a large box stashed in a truck heading from the provincial city of Iranshahr to the capital of northeastern province of Razavi Khorassan, Mashhad, a couple of days ago.
Akbarzadeh said that it was the first case of snake smuggling to Iran.
Being a member of Boa snakes family, pythons are found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South Pacific islands.
The 12 snakes smuggled to Iran were originally, brought to Pakistan from India and then transferred to Iran for a later transfer to foreign countries, Akbarzadeh added.
The almost four-meter long pythons are currently held in Zabul's zoo where officials provide proper conditions for their stay and feed them with some rabbits and pigeons each day, concluded the official.
12 smuggled giant pythons seized in E Iran