Russell’s viper, 17 hatchlings found in Pondy

PUDUCHERRY: A Russell’s viper, locally known as Kankadi viriyan, and 17 hatchlings were rescued on Sunday from the drainage pipe of a house in Lawspet. Locals also killed another snake and several hatchlings before forest department officials arrived.

Forest department sources said Elamparuthi of Lawspet noticed a small snake measuring less than 15cm at the entrance of his house on Sunday morning and alerted the neighbours. Neighbours killed the snake and spotted several smaller snakes coming out from a drain pipe near entrance of the house. They killed all the hatchlings and then alerted the forest department officials.

After forest department officials reached the house, they broke the drain pipe and found a three-foot long Russell’s viper and her hatchlings. The hatchlings measured between 10cm and 18cm.

The viper and the hatchlings were taken to an animal rescue centre and kept in a glass enclosure.