Visiting hours at the Byculla zoo are restricted after 7pm. The zoo is a grade-III heritage structure and the premises are guarded by police officials. However, no one saw anybody sneaking into the zoo.
In an astonishing incident, a red sand boa snake was stolen from the Byculla zoo on Friday. The 10-year-old snake was in its enclosure when somebody reportedly stole it late in the night. Authorities from the heritage zoo stated that the sweepers found about the theft early Saturday morning.
Visiting hours at the Byculla zoo are restricted after 7pm. The zoo is a grade-III heritage structure and the premises are guarded by police officials. However, no one saw anybody sneaking into the zoo.
The zoo now has four cobras, five pythons and two rat snakes.
This was the only sand boa. The sand boa is non-venomous and non-endangered specie. The reptile is listed under the Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
Trafficking of sand boas is on rise due to superstitious beliefs. People believe that possessing a sand boa brings money and good fortune. “The demand for sand boa is on an upswing, people want to have them as pets,” said Rituraj Joshi, trustee of Nisarg Trust, organisation working for animal protection. Krushna Tiwari, conservation officer of Bombay Natural History Society said that such these species are threatened as people believe that they can be used in medicinal purpose and bring good luck.
The price for the reptile is around Rs20-30 lakhs.
Meanwhile the zoo authorities said that they have lodged a complaint in the Byculla police station. However Byculla police refuted the claim. “It has come to our notice that a snake has gone missing from the zoo, but neither BMC nor the zoo authorities have filed a formal complaint,” said an officer from Byculla police station.
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