Snake causes scare on Shivaji College campus

New Delhi: A nearly five-foot-long rat snake caused a stir at Delhi University's Shivaji College in west Delhi's Raja Garden.

The large snake was spotted on the campus grounds by students and staff on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in panic, following which they alerted NGO Wildlife SOS for the rescue of the snake.

A two-member team then reached the spot and rescued the snake, much to the relief of the distraught students.

“Some of our students saw the snake on the lawns and immediately informed the administration. As suggested by the Wildlife SOS team, we kept a close eye on its movement from a safe distance till they arrived,” said Hemant Lamba, administration officer, Shivaji College.

Shortly after, the team rescued another rat snake from a house in Jal Vihar Colony in Lajpat Nagar. Both the snakes are under observation and will be released back into the wild once deemed fit.

Rat snakes (Ptyas mucosa) are a highly adaptable species and are commonly found in urban areas. They wander into the human habitation. Due to their resemblance to cobras, this species is often misunderstood.