Vine Snake

Rediscovery: Long-snouted Vine Snake (Ahaetulla longirostris) rediscovered in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh.

First in UP: This marks the first documented sighting of the species in Uttar Pradesh.

Second in India: Only the second recorded instance of the snake in India. The first instance was in Bihar and Odisha.

Location of Discovery: Palia Kheri division during a rhino release operation. The snake emerged from a termite mound.

Identification: Identified by field biologist Vipin Kapoor Sainy and a team of researchers.

Previous Range: Commonly found in Southeast Asia.

Significance: Highlights Dudhwa Tiger Reserve’s ecological richness and the importance of habitat conservation and sustained research. Even termite mounds play a crucial role.

Species Info: Belongs to the Colubridae family (mostly non-venomous). Bright green or brown, slender body with a long snout. Arboreal and mildly venomous (not dangerous to humans).

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve: Located on the Indo-Nepal border. Includes Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. Lies within the Tarai-Bhabar zone of the Upper Gangetic Plains.

Officials’ Remarks: Authorities hailed the discovery as a testament to the reserve’s ecological richness and wildlife conservation.