Rajouri: In a dramatic rescue operation on Tuesday, officials of the Wildlife Department in coordination with police personnel captured a massive python weighing nearly 55 kilograms in Manpur village of Nowshera tehsil, Rajouri district. The reptile, measuring more than four and a half metres in length, had been spotted by locals who immediately alerted authorities, triggering a large-scale effort to secure the area and safely capture the snake.
Wildlife official Rajesh Kumar said the operation began after villagers reported unusual movement in the nearby forest belt. “We received information from locals about the presence of a huge snake. Along with police teams, we launched an operation and after hours of careful tracking, the python was successfully captured,” he said.
According to officials, the python had recently hunted and swallowed a jackal. However, it later regurgitated the animal, likely due to stress or disturbance caused by human presence. “It was a rare sight. Such large reptiles usually remain hidden, but this python had come into an area close to human habitation after preying on a jackal,” Kumar explained.
Eyewitnesses said panic spread through Manpur village when word got out that a giant snake was on the loose. Dozens of villagers gathered at a distance to watch the operation unfold as wildlife staff carefully manoeuvred around the reptile. “It was both frightening and fascinating. None of us had ever seen such a huge python before,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a local resident.
The python was eventually subdued using specialised equipment and placed inside a secure cage. Wildlife staff described the operation as “challenging but successful,” given the size and weight of the animal. Officials confirmed that the reptile appeared healthy and would be released back into a protected forest area away from human settlements. [KNT]
