Twenty-eight python hatchlings born by artificial incubation at Chattogram Zoo have been released at the Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco-park.

Mohammad Ruhul Amin, member secretary of the zoo management committee, released the young pythons at around noon on Wednesday, 14 July.

Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Shahadat Hossain, zoo curator Shahadat Hossain Shuvo, the botanical garden and eco-park's ranger Md Alamgir and other officials were present.

On 22 June, 28 python hatchlings emerged from 31 eggs at Chattogram Zoo. The eggs hatched after about 67 days in an incubator built by the zoo itself. In June 2019, under the supervision of zoo curator Dr Shuvo, 25 python hatchlings were hatched in a hand-made incubator for the first time in Bangladesh; they were later released into the wild.

Mohammad Ruhul Amin told Jago News that in 2019, 25 python hatchlings were born at Chattogram Zoo, a first in the country's history. Following on from that, 28 more were born on 22 June. After about 22 days in the zoo's care, they were released into the forest on Wednesday. He said the zoo's work would stand as a milestone in snake conservation.

He added that Chattogram Zoo is not only a place of entertainment but plays a part in animal conservation, research, education and recreation.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.