THE HINDU (New Delhi, India) 31 August 06 `Rendezvous' with a python - A couple of youngsters spot the reptile slithering away in the KPHB area

Photo: Bic Catch: The python that was caught by some youngsters from Yousufguda. (K. Ramesh Babu)

Hyderabad: A casual stroll in the night turned out to be an experience of a lifetime for a group of youngsters in Kukatpally.

The youngsters had a `shock of their lives' when they spotted a fully-grown python slithering away aimlessly in Kukatpally Housing Board area near the upcoming Malaysian township.

The youngsters panicked as the scaly surface of the reptile was shining due to Tuesday's rain. "We were shocked by its sheer size and at one point almost ran away. We came to meet our friend who lives near the Malaysian township," said Khwaja Pasha and Dinesh Darnal who were the first to spot the python and later alert the Kukatpally police.

With limited resources at hand, high drama took place thereafter with the youth and the police trying their best to transport the python to Yousufguda where they reside.

Narrating his ordeal with the python during the whole of Tuesday night Pasha said that they managed to bring the python to Yousufguda by 3 a.m. on Wednesday. "We came back to Yousufguda from Kukatpally and purchased a TV carton and roped in a friend's car to transport the python. The patrolling team, locals of Kukatpally and our friends worked together for three hours to put the snake into the carton," said Pasha.

"The patrolling team had no clue on how to handle the situation and they suggested that we kill the reptile. However, we wanted to protect it because the python was not harming anybody. We struggled to put it in the carton because we were afraid touch it," said Dinesh adding that they managed to coax the python into the carton with the help of sticks.

After bringing the python to safety the youth contacted Cyberabad Commissioner M. Mahender Reddy who guided them to Nehru Zoological Park Assistant Conservator Sekhar Reddy.

"We did not sleep the whole night because we were worried that the python would die of hunger. We kept meat for the python in the carton but the python did not eat it at all," said another youth Zayed Khan.

Zoo Assistant Conservator told The Hindu that the python would be kept in the zoo and be given medical assistance if required. "It is safe in our hands," he said.
`Rendezvous' with a python

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• IND Press: `Rendezvous' with a python - W von Papineäu, Sat Sep 2 20:45:16 2006