Python vomits rabbit after swallowing it in Bangladesh tea estate

A young python that swallowed a rabbit in a Moulvibazar tea estate regurgitated its prey and narrowly escaped death after forest officials intervened and released the rescued snake into nearby forest habitat.

A juvenile python that swallowed a rabbit in a tea estate in northeastern Bangladesh later vomited the animal and was rescued by forest officials after workers tried to beat it to death, authorities and witnesses said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred around midday in the Kapanapahar Tea Estate area of Juri upazila in Moulvibazar district.

According to four tea estate workers who witnessed the event and forest department officials, several workers were moving around Section 11 of the estate at about 11:00 am when they spotted the young python swallowing a rabbit.

The workers watched the scene for some time. At one stage, the snake regurgitated the rabbit, apparently unable to digest it. After the rabbit was expelled, workers attempted to kill the python by beating it.

Forest officials said they were alerted by a local young man who called them by mobile phone. Mohammad Sajan, the officer in charge of the Putichhara Beat under the forest department, rushed to the scene and urged the workers not to kill the snake. With their assistance, the python was later placed in a sack and taken to the beat office.

Two tea estate workers who were present at the scene and spoke on condition of anonymity said they had wanted to kill the python out of fear that it could harm people. They said forest officials informed them that the snake was non-venomous and asked them not to attack it. The workers then handed the animal over to the authorities.

Speaking by phone at around 2:00 pm, Sajan said the juvenile python may have wandered into the locality from nearby forests while searching for food.

He said the snake likely vomited because it was unable to digest the rabbit. After regurgitating its prey, the python appeared weak but recovered after some time.

The snake measured about five feet in length. Forest officials later released it into a hilly stream area inside the Putichhara Reserved Forest, Sajan added.

This post is republished from Daily Prothom Alo.