Maharashtra snake rescuer lets 4-year-old hold python by its tail, inquiry on

PALGHAR: A video of a snake rescuer letting a little boy yank a snake by its tail has stirred up a controversy. Animal lovers and wildlife enthusiasts have complained to the forest department.

The undated video shows the snake rescuer, Sagar Patel, holding on to the boy, who sources said could be around three or four years of age. The rescuer is holding on to the python, letting the child grab the snake by the tail.

While the video is undated, sources claimed that it was shot in Dahanu, and is a couple of months old.

Deputy conservator of forests (Dahanu), Niranjan Diwakar, said that the video, which the snake rescuer had uploaded on his social media has since been taken down from all his accounts. "We are enquiring if there was any harm caused to the python seen in the video," he added.

Animal lovers said that one should avoid putting up such videos on social media as these visuals can influence others too to try out such stunts.