Odishatv Bureau

Agra: We have heard about snakes in plane only in movies but in reality it did happen on Wednesday when an eight-foot-long Indian Rock Python was spotted in an Air Force transport plane at the Agra airbase.

The Python was trapped inside the undercarriage bay of the right wing of AN-32 Aircraft number K2706. The IAF officials immediately contacted Wildlife SOS for rescuing the snake.

A team comprising two expert snake-rescuers from the NGO arrived at the scene. However, it was not an easy task for them as it took nearly five hours to extricate the distressed python by the expert snake rescuers who later said it was a challenge for them to ensure the large constrictor remained calm and unhurt.

[caption id="attachment_226281" align="alignnone" width="614"] Members of Wildlife SOS (ANI)[/caption]

The python was needed to get out of that narrow space keeping safety in mind. The rescue team patiently waited for the snake to loosen its grip so that they could carefully transfer it to a transport carrier- (special-designed transport boxes). After five long hours, they got hold of the python.

The director of conservation (Projects) for Wildlife SOS Baiju Raj M V thanked the Indian Air Force for considering the well being of python and reporting the incident to them.

The Indian Rock Python (Python molurus) is a large non- venomous species found in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), which regulates the international trade of wildlife species.

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