The snakes are on the IUCN Red List of threatened species
An 11-foot-long Burmese python, weighing 9 kg, has been released into the natural environment of Kaptai National Park, located in the Kaptai Range of Rangamati in Bangladesh.
Flanked by his colleagues, Kaptai Range Officer ASM Mohi Uddin Chowdhury released the python into the deep forest of the national park on Wednesday afternoon.
The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Chittagong South Forest Department on Tuesday rescued the python with the help of local residents when it stuck in an office.
Currently, many pythons and other wild animals are coming to the local areas in search of food due to rampant deforestation and unplanned urbanisation, said forest officials.
The Burmese python and the reticulated python are the only types of python found in Bangladesh and they are both on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.
The Burmese python grows up to 16 feet long and is found across Bangladesh. The reticulated python, the world’s longest, can grow up to 22 feet and is found in the eastern regions of Sylhet and Chittagong.
The border region in Chittagong between India and Myanmar is a biodiversity hotspot that is home to many species, including the two pythons.
This area is also home to lizards, rodents, monkeys, small carnivores, deer, and wild boar, all of which are potential prey for the snakes.
An expert’s take
Zohra Mila, wildlife and biodiversity conservation officer and researcher at the Bangladesh Forest Department, said Burmese pythons are heavier than rock pythons and these varieties are mostly found in the Sundarbans, grasslands, and the hills of Chattogram and Sylhet.
“Burmese pythons are not venomous and they generally do not harm humans. These snakes are nocturnal and also very lazy and usually live alone unless they have to breed. The breeding season is between March and June,” she added.
The snakes generally eat rodents, chickens, pigs, foxes including many different mammals and reptiles.
However, Zohra Mila said that the snake is becoming endangered as it is the prime target of poachers. She said the snake is protected under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act so, harming or killing it is a punishable offence.
