Snake theft: Police quiz handler,guard

Two days after an endangered Red Sand Boa snake was stolen from the Veer Jijamata Udyan,popularly known as Byculla Zoo,police officials investigating the case have begun questioning the handler of the snake.

Two days after an endangered Red Sand Boa snake was stolen from the Veer Jijamata Udyan,popularly known as Byculla Zoo,police officials investigating the case have begun questioning the handler of the snake. We have started questioning the person who used to handle and feed the snake and in the next process we will question the security guards who were manning the area near the cage, said A A Kamble,police official at the Byculla Police Station.

While zoo officials claim the theft cannot be an inside job,police officials have not given anyone a clean chit. We are investigating every angle. The thief could be anyone,even an insider, said police inspector Premkumar Yadav.

While the investigations are on,zoo officials said the endangered species will not be replaced in the near future. We will not get another Red Sand Boa until the zoo revamp is complete. Also we need to get fresh approvals to get Red Sand Boa. The existing snake cages are not in accordance with the new norms. New cages have to be partly open with small trees, said zoo director Anil Anjankar.

The theft was discovered on Saturday morning when a cleaner entered the cage. Typically,one guard is posted near the snakes cage,but is also responsible for about 10 other cages nearby. Following the theft,security has been increased in the zoo,said officials.

The authorities have shut the cage for repairs and shifted the remaining snakes to the zoo hospital.

The process to get another Red Sand Boa will take at least a year, said a zoo official.

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