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Caesarean section on dead snake Variety
A Caesarean section has been performed on a green vine snake within an hour of its death after being hit by a vehicle, taking out 21 little snakes.
The five-and-a-half-foot-long snake was found on the roadside writhing in pain by P Ramesh, a snake lover and conservationist in Usilampatti, about 100 km from Madurai, according to forest officials. Though ‘Snake Ramesh', as he is affectionately called, tried to save the reptile, it succumbed to the injuries.
Ramesh, who runs the Netaji Snake Research Centre at Usilampatti, understood that the snake was pregnant and immediately performed a Caesarean section to save the little snakes.
“I used a knife and performed the Caesarean and removed 21 little snakes from its stomach. I fed water to the little snakes. While two died, the others survived,” Ramesh said.
All the snakes have been handed over to the forest department officials.
Unlike the normal green snakes, which lay eggs, the green vine snakes (Ahaetulla nasuta) are viviparous and usually carry 15 to 20 foetuses. (Agencies)
| Published on Nov 8th, 2007 |
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