Mysore/Mysuru: The Mysuru Forest Mobile Squad personnel have arrested five persons, who were trying to sell a Red Sand Boa snake yesterday and have rescued the snake besides seizing a car from them.

The arrested are Hemanth, Barmegowda and Yogesh of Honnali in Davangere district and Ravi and Doddaiah of  K.R. Nagar.

Acting on a tip off, that a few persons were trying to sell a snake near Columbia Asia Hospital-Ring Road junction, the Forest personnel raided the spot and arrested the five persons and seized the taxi (KA-50-A-9680) in which they were travelling.

During interrogation, the accused from Honnali are said to have told the Forest officials that they had caught the snake when it was crossing the road at Honnali and had asked another accused Ravi of K.R. Nagar to get the snake sold. They travelled from Honnali in the taxi along with the snake and picked up Ravi and Doddaiah. The accused later came to Mysuru and met three prospective buyers and demanded Rs. 10 lakh for the snake but the deal did not  take place.

The accused then went in search of new buyers during which they were nabbed. They have been booked under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) of Mysuru Forest Mobile Squad A.T. Poovaiah supervised DRFOs Vivek, Mohan Kumar, Pramod, Sundar and staff Govind, Channabasavaiah, Ravikumar and others in the nabbing, rescue and seizing operation.

Myths surrounding Sand Boa

Red Sand Boa snakes are being caught and sold illegally by poachers to make easy money because of the myth that the snake is a two-headed reptile which has special powers in detecting hidden treasure.

They are nocturnal species and spend most of its time underground; use dry and sandy soil for burrowing and is mostly active at night. They live in mounds, under buried bricks and rocks, rat holes, small caves, agricultural lands and so on.

While scientifically these non-venomous snakes are used for medicinal purpose, many have been using this snake for black magic. The demand for Sand Boa has also been associated with superstitions which claim that owning a Sand Boa brings in immense luck with it. Sand Boas are extensively trafficked from various States and the main reason behind this is believed to be the superstitions and the use of the snake in black magic. 

Protected Snake

The Sand Boa snakes are listed under the Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which protects the reptiles. This means that anyone found with these snakes needs to provide proper documentation and failure to produce this will make them criminal offenders.