Red Sand Boa rescued

Forest Department officials
today rescued a rare variety of red sand boa from a coastal village in the district.
According to Gopinath, Forest Ranger, Sirkazhi, Ravi, a fisherman of Perumalpettai coastal hamlet near Porayar got the reptile in his fishing net while fishing in sea a couple of days back. Since red sand boa fetches good amount in the grey market, Ravi had allegedly kept the boa in gunny bag at his house.
However, people of the area informed aboutto to Forest Dept officils.
A rescue team led by Sirkazhi ranger Gopinath rushed to the spot and rescued the red sand boa, measuring about 2 ft, an endangered species listed under schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Gopinath said officials were questioning Ravi for failing to inform the forest department about the catch.
The red sand boa would be released into the forest area near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district, he said.