When a Giant Python Sneezed on a Photo Ops
Wildlife Ranger Gets a “Snake” Surprise
It was a chill afternoon in West Bengal when Sanjay Dutta, a dedicated forestry officer, was pulled into a situation that felt like a scene from a wildlife drama. Villagers had spotted a massive 40‑kg (about 88‑lb) python devouring a goat straight off its tail. They begged the ranger to help.
The “Snack” That Wasn’t a Snack
- Instead of stashing the python in a secure bag, Dutta chose the live‑action route — wrapping the snake around his own neck like a very daring necktie.
- He then struck a pose, ready for those “OMG‑Snap” photos with the stunned locals.
- But the story took a twist when the colossal serpent began to coil itself tighter around his jugular, turning the photo session into a high‑stakes wrestling match.
Freeing Himself From the Grip of the Beast
With a mix of quick thinking and agility, Dutta managed to wriggle free, leaving the python untangled. Despite the adrenaline rush, he emerged uninjured—just a few blushes that could have been mistaken for a reptile‑themed high‑five.
A Wildly Unforgettable Lesson
While the locals waved their phones, a ranger proved that sometimes even the sharpest wildlife professionals can get caught in a literal snake’s embrace—proving that nature is never short on surprises.
When a Python Named Dutta Became a Hero
In the jungles of West Bengal, a massive, 10‑meter (roughly 33 feet) Indian rock python was battling a harsh reality: villagers were armed with sticks, ready to mar a likely harmless reptile that could still do severe damage if it constricted the blood flow of its prey.
Wildlife, Safety and a Sudden Hero
- Why it wasn’t a poison threat – The Indian rock python is non‑venomous, but that doesn’t shield it from the danger of being stampeded or annihilated by human cruelty.
- Safety protocols in trouble – The forest department has begun a formal investigation into a ranger’s apparent disregard for those very safety measures.
- Enter Dutta – A local name, but here he’s standing up for the python, not the other way around.
“I just had to protect it.”
When villagers emerged with sticks, Dutta’s first reaction was instinct rather than fury: “I hauled the snake on my shoulders and held onto its mouth tight,” he told AFP. He even noted the moment the python tightened its grip doesn’t switch the fear switch to the critical “panic” mode. “If I’d panicked, it could have turned deadly.”
From Sides to The Wild
Dutta didn’t have a bag for the python—he simply carried it to a safer spot and you guessed it, dropped it into the natural habitat again. He neither feared the snake nor let the villagers hinder his rescue mission.
Why the story matters
It showcases how one ordinary citizen can step up when official channels break down. In the balance, he saved a creature that could, non‑venomously, still be deadly, and set a meaningful example for wildlife protection in a region where human conflict with animals isn’t a rare story.
