Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Dec 17: A Mumbai police constable rescued a 9-foot-long python from an internet duct outside a park in the city’s Dharavi area, police officials said.

The incident occurred on December 13 near the Dharavi depot, when a worker noticed the large reptile while carrying out wire repair work inside an internet duct. Alerted by locals, constable Sachin More, who is trained in snake rescue operations, rushed to the spot.

Constable More safely rescued the python and later handed it over to the forest department for further care. More is attached to the local arms unit of the Mumbai Police. A video of the rescue operation has since gone viral on social media, and was also shared by Mumbai Police on its official X handle.

Meanwhile, in a separate wildlife-related development, two Indian Giant Squirrels rescued a few months ago were successfully released into the wild after undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at a facility in the city.

The Indian Giant Squirrel, locally known as Shekru, is the state animal of Maharashtra and is currently facing threats due to habitat loss and fragmentation, wildlife experts said.

The forest department had rescued the two squirrels in separate incidents and handed them over to the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) for treatment. After nearly three months of medical care and rehabilitation, the squirrels were declared fit and released back into their natural habitat last week, RAWW founder Pawan Sharma said on Tuesday.

Forest officials reiterated the need for greater awareness and conservation efforts to protect urban wildlife increasingly coming into contact with human settlements.