Python released into SGNP,‘snake rescuer’ under scanner

The forest department has initiated a probe against snake rescuer Bharat Joshi for releasing an exotic python into the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) without appropriate permission. Joshi,who was issued the Sarpa Mitra I-card by the government last year,is said to have rescued the rare Reticulated Python from the Naval Dockyard. According to forest officials,on Wednesday,Joshi released the 15-ft long snake into the wild near Tulsi lake,without any written permission.