Thirteen Phipson’s shieldtail snakes spotted together in Maval taluka near Pune

The 13 Phipson’s shieldtail snakes that were found in the polyhouse in Vadgaon, Maval taluka, Pune district; (left) Wildlife researcher Jigar Solanki with the snakes. PICS COURTESY/Jigar Solanki

Thirteen Phipson's shieldtail snakes were found by wildlife enthusiast Omkar Dhore while cleaning a small polyhouse, a type of greenhouse where a specialised polythene sheet is used as a covering material, in Vadgaon, Maval taluka, Pune district, on February 4. Dhore informed Jigar Solanki, a member of the Wildlife Rescuer of Maval organisation, on noticing movement on the floor of the polyhouse. Upon searching a small area of about three to four feet in a corner, the snakes were found one after another. Such a discovery is considered a rare occurrence.

According to wildlife experts, the Phipson's shieldtail, a fossorial, burrowing snake of the Western ghats, spends most of its life underground, coming to the surface mainly during heavy rain, flooding of burrows, or when disturbed by digging or construction activity in the area. Solanki told mid-day that this group included juveniles, sub-adults, and fully grown adults.

Following the discovery, Vadgaon Range Forest Officer (RFO) Prakash Shinde was informed. Acting under the guidance of the forest department, all the rescued snakes were given a medical examination before being safely released into suitable natural habitats. The rescue operation was carried out with the assistance of Dhore, Om Dalvi, Rohit Pawar, Adesh Mutha, and Nikhil Sane.

Solanki said, "Phipson's Shieldtail snakes, locally known as ‘khaparkhavlya', are non-venomous and prefer living underground or in moist soil. They are characterised by their shield-like tails. Finding 13 of them in such a small area is a rare phenomenon. These snakes primarily feed on earthworms and are most commonly seen above ground during the monsoon. They are often found in farms or polyhouse areas; however, being soil-dwellers, they face significant threats from chemical pesticides and ploughing. Therefore, all these snakes were relocated to a safe, favourable habitat where they face no dangers."

This species is currently listed in the 'vulnerable' category of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, and according to experts, there is an urgent need for the conservation and further study of such elusive creatures.