|
A Caesarean section has been performed on a green vine snake within
an hour of its death after being hit by a vehicle, taking out 21
little snakes.
The five-and-a-half-foot-long snake was found on the roadside
writhing in pain by P Ramesh, a snake lover and conservationist in
Usilampatti, about 100 km from Madurai, according to forest
officials.
Though ‘Snake Ramesh', as he is affectionately
called, tried to save the reptile, it succumbed to the injuries.
Ramesh, who runs the Netaji Snake Research Centre
at Usilampatti, understood that the snake was pregnant and
immediately performed a Caesarean section to save the little snakes.
“I used a knife and performed the Caesarean and
removed 21 little snakes from its stomach. I fed water to the little
snakes. While two died, the others survived,” Ramesh said.
All the snakes have been handed over to the
forest department officials.
Unlike the normal green snakes, which lay eggs,
the green vine snakes (Ahaetulla nasuta) are viviparous and usually
carry 15 to 20 foetuses. (Agencies)
|
