Bokaro: Forest officials rescued two Indian rock pythons that were allegedly being displayed at a religious programme in Chas on Tuesday.Officials said the snakes were first displayed in a ‘Dak Bam’ tableau on Aug 8. After learning that the group planned a similar programme on Tuesday, the divisional forest department placed the event under surveillance.“Considering the religious nature of the programme, forest officials exercised restraint. After the event ended, members of the bhajan mandali, who had come from another state, were informed about the laws governing the possession and display of protected wildlife,” forest official Sundeep Shinde said.Officials then took custody of the pythons. Some people at the venue resisted the action and demanded that the snakes be returned. Senior forest officials intervened and defused the situation, allowing the rescue operation to be completed peacefully.The Indian rock python is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Its capture, possession or public display without authorisation is prohibited. The two snakes were released into their natural habitat after the required formalities were completed.The forest department urged people not to use wild animals at public events or attempt to capture snakes and other wildlife.“Whenever a wild animal is spotted, people should immediately inform the forest department or an authorised rescue team,” officials said.
