May 14: Authorities of the Assam State Zoo were delirious with joy after a python laid an egg, for the first time in captive breeding at the zoo, last evening.
The Burmese rock python (python molurus bivittatus) had been transferred to the new enclosure last year. There are only two of the species in this enclosure.
“We saw an egg lying in the python enclosure yesterday. There could be more but we can’t see as the python is blocking the view,” deputy forest officer of the zoo Narayan Mahanta said.
He said the enclosure was enriched with logs to provide an ideal breeding habitat for the pythons. “The breeding has been possible as there were excellent facilities for breeding of pythons.”
The pythons are in a glass enclosure in the snake house. There are four Burmese rock pythons in the snake house.
Mahanta said they would watch the enclosure over the next few days to find out whether more eggs had been laid.The Burmese python is one of the largest of all snakes, growing up to 9 metres and weighing up to 91kg.
These pythons are light-coloured snakes with dark brown blotches and bordered in black down their back.
They are often found near water and sometimes in semi-aquatic areas, but can also be found in trees.
They can be found in grasslands, marshes, swamps, rocky foothills, woodlands, river valleys, and jungles with open clearings and are very good climbers.
A large number of pythons are rescued and sent to the zoo for treatment every year. After treating these snakes, the zoo authorities release them into the wilds.
“The development is significant as this is a schedule I species. I was looking forward to the day when the Burmese rock python would lay an egg,” Abhijit Das, a local herpetologist, who has been associated with the snake house, said.
He said it would take at least 58-72 hours for the egg to hatch.
Das said one of the main objectives of the newly built snake house was to provide a good environment and habitat for them to breed.
“We are always in constant touch with herpetologists who provide us with the required technical assistance,” Mahanta said.
