A red sand boa was rescued from the premises of a five-star hotel in Mumbai’s Cuffe Parade in September, drawing attention to the illegal wildlife trade and superstitions that put the protected species at risk.
The non-venomous snake was rescued by Anuj Khanvilkar, a volunteer with wildlife NGO SARRP India, after the hotel contacted the organisation. The reptile was identified as a red sand boa, a species often mistaken for a two-headed snake because its short, blunt tail resembles a second head.
Asif Patrawala of SARRP India said the organisation’s volunteer reached the hotel after receiving the call and alerted officials from the Mumbai Range of the Maharashtra Forest Department after the rescue. The snake was placed under his care for observation and treatment.
A medical examination found that the boa was weak and dehydrated. It received supportive care under the guidance of veterinarian Dr Sunetra Wadke, while Patrawala monitored its recovery. After the snake regained its strength and normal activity, wildlife veterinary officer Dr Nikhil Bangar of Sanjay Gandhi National Park examined it and certified it fit for release.
The red sand boa was subsequently released deep inside a forest reserve at an undisclosed location, with special permission from the authorities. The location was not disclosed because of the species’ vulnerability to poaching and illegal trade.
Santosh Shinde, president of SARRP India, said myths linking the snake to overnight wealth, supernatural fortune and miraculous medicinal properties had created demand for it in an underground market. These beliefs, he said, made each urban sighting a situation requiring a quick response to prevent the animal from being harmed or taken away.
The red sand boa is locally known as Doon Tondya in Marathi and as Double Engine in smuggling circles. Its unusual body shape is a natural defensive adaptation: the blunt tail resembles the head and can divert an attacker away from the snake’s actual head. The species is shy, non-venomous and a constrictor.
The rescue also illustrates how wildlife can enter dense urban environments and become exposed to risks beyond habitat loss. In this case, the animal was found inside a commercial property in south Mumbai, where its survival depended on identification by trained rescuers and coordination with wildlife authorities.
The red sand boa is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Unauthorised capture, possession, trade or other illegal exploitation of the species can attract imprisonment and fines under the law. The authorities’ next step in this case was the supervised release of the recovered snake after veterinary clearance.
