Page 14 - Jan-Mar 2019

Snakes in the Red rAre reticuLAted
PYtHOn!
Reticulated Python (Python
Deteriorating environmental factors are a leading cause of threat to reticulatus) is found in the Nicobar
our biodiversity, and snakes haven’t been spared either. For centuries, Islands and in small numbers in
humans killed pythons out of fear. Snakes of all kinds were hunted for Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
food, skin and blood, which is believed to have medicinal values.

rashmi, iX D, DaV Public school, sec-14, Faridabad
endAngered SnAKeS
Sustained loss of habitat, climate change and declining prey are a few factors responsible for putting
some of the snake species under threat.

indiAn PYtHOn SnAKeS OF tHe WeStern gHAtS

Scientific Name: WESTERN gHATS BRONzEBACK
Python molurus Scientific Name: Ahaetulla perroteti
Other Name: Asian Other Name: Bronze-headed
Rock Python Vine Snake.
distribution: Indian A mildly venomous, rear-
subcontinent fanged snake.
One of the methods MAdURAI SHIEldTAIl
used to kill the prey by the python is strangulation Scientific Name:
where the snake tightly coils itself around the Platyplectrurus Madurensis Illustration by: Sagarika
prey. They can swallow prey bigger than their own Other Name: Travancore Hills Shyam, IX A, SG International
diameter because the jaw bones are not connected. Thorntail Snake Public School, Bangalore
Status: Indian Rock Python was declared near A non-venomous, burrowing snake.
threatened and endangered by different organisations.
This was due to exploitation for its skin and meat. Status: Due to decline in quantity and quality of
habitat, both these snakes are marked endangered on
the IUCN Red List.
SnAKe PArKS King in dAnger!

Katraj Snake Park, Pune: King Cobra is ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of
The snake park is housed in Threatened Species. Factors such as loss of habitat and
the Rajiv Gandhi zoological exploitation for traditional medicine, meat and skins,
Park. It has over 22 species have made King Cobra vulnerable.
of snakes, including Indian
Python, King Cobra and urvi Muley and aaron Desai, global indian international school,
ahmadabad; harshit anand, Vii e, summer Fields school, Kailash Colony,
Russell’s Viper. New Delhi
Chennai Snake Park: Also
known as Guindy Snake ActiVitY: creAtiVe
Park, this is the first reptile Illustration by: Akhil Chandpuri, WitH SnAKeS
park of India. It hosts a wide VIII A, Scholars Home Sr. Sec. Design a poster with the heading:
School, Dehradun
range of snakes such as lET THEM SlITHER, NOT WITHER!
adders, vipers, cobras and pythons. SAVE SNAKE
Parassinikkadavu Snake Park, Kannur: This Park acts
like a snake researcher’s paradise as it has a research
laboratory. A large variety of both venomous and
non-venomous snakes including python, krait and pit
vipers are found at this park.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20