Hyderabad:A spate of python sightings in rural areas of Mahabubnagar and Narayanpet districts has alarmed villagers and farmers. Over the past three weeks, locals have spotted several young pythons near agricultural fields and residential areas.
Villagers fear the snakes could attack their livestock. Some have beaten pythons to death, while others have been found dead on roads, possibly after being hit by vehicles, said M. Jangaiah, a resident of Kosgi mandal.
“The reptiles may have emerged from their burrows because of the intense heat and lack of water. We have urged people not to harm them and instead alert trained snake catchers,” said Sandeep, a wildlife protector.
After reports of snakebite deaths in Mahabubnagar district, farmers began noticing pythons in Kosgi town and nearby villages, including Nacharam, Thimmaipally and Narasingapalli in Narayanpet district, as well as rural areas of Kalwakurthy in Mahabubnagar district, said Gyaneshwari, a resident of Thimmaipally.
Forest officials suspect the snakes may have moved from Mahbubnagar into villages in Narayanpet to lay eggs. “We spotted baby pythons a few days ago, but the larger female has not yet been found. Forest officials and snake catchers are searching the identified areas,” said social worker Malikarjun Reddy.
Farmers from both districts have met their representatives and zonal forest officers, who assured them the reptiles would be safely captured and released in interior forests in accordance with the law, Reddy said.
Farmers remain concerned for their safety and for their cattle, sheep and goats, which are often kept near fields.
In a separate incident two weeks ago, an adult python was found beside an animal that had been run over by an unidentified vehicle on the road near Chennaram village. In Kosgi, villagers said, a baby python that entered a residential area near Pochamma Temple was beaten to death.
Seven snake catchers have been deployed. Residents of Veerabhadra locality in Mahabubnagar district said they were relieved after a catcher rescued a python found moving through a sewer.
Drying water sources may be driving snakes towards fields, said Shavaiah, a snake catcher. He said snakes move towards wetter areas at night and that agricultural fields can offer both water and prey. “We have seen the young pythons spotted in Kosgi. They grow rapidly and could pose a threat to chickens, goats and sheep,” he said.
A wildlife protector urged residents of Narayanpet and Mahabubnagar not to take matters into their own hands or kill the reptiles, which may be moving because of climatic changes. Villagers should alert local police or snake catchers, whose phone numbers are displayed in villages. Telugu pamphlets have also been circulated with safety precautions and emergency contacts for hospitals, snake catchers and veterinarians.
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