Members of the Kalapara team of Animal Lovers of Patuakhali rescued a snake of the mete species. While it was being given first aid, the snake gave birth to 26 young. When it had recovered somewhat, it was released along with its young.

The snakes were released in the Nilganj area of Kalapara upazila on the morning of Saturday, 3 June. The day before, Friday, the team had rescued the mother snake in Nilganj union when some local teenagers tried to kill it.

Baijid, a member of the Kalapara team of Animal Lovers of Patuakhali, said that because the snake was unwell, it was taken for first aid rather than released immediately after the rescue. A little later it gave birth to 26 young, one after another.

He said the released snake is of the mete, or maitta, species. It lives in Asia, mostly around ponds and ditches, and is seen to a greater or lesser extent in almost every part of Bangladesh. It gives birth to about 25 to 30 young at a time.

Md Shamim Hossain, team leader of Animal Lovers of Patuakhali, confirmed that the rescued snake was a mete. He said the mete snake does not lay eggs but gives birth to live young. It is mildly venomous and not harmful to people.

Kalapara upazila forest officer Moniruzzaman Moni said the forest department had given the members of Animal Lovers of Patuakhali full support. "We were aware of the snake's release today. It is praiseworthy work on their part," he said.

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