Is King Cobra traveling with you in the train? Python found in Janshatabdi Express, what is the reason?

Snakes Traveling On A Train: While traveling with the passengers in the Indian Railways, which is called the lifeline of the country, one often sees rats, cockroaches and other creatures, but imagine what would be the situation if a king cobra or a python is traveling with you in the same train. We are not scaring the passengers, but the fact is that snakes, pythons are traveling hundreds of kilometers in trains.

Python baby found in train coming from Goa

The latest incident of python in the train has come to light. On Wednesday, train number 12052 Madgaon-CSMT Janshatabdi Express reached platform number 11 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Mumbai at 12.45 pm. A baby python was seen in it. Loco pilot N. of engine number 22936/SRC/CAB2/WAP4 of Janshatabdi Express. Of. Parsoya called ‘Cab No. 2’ I saw a baby python. He told loco pilot Omprakash Ram. On receiving information about this and informing the concerned authorities, the state’s Honorary Animal Welfare Officer, Abhishek Ashok Thaware immediately reached the spot.

The python was rescued safely at around 1:40 am without any disruption in railway operations. Later it was released into its natural habitat. It was told that it was the ‘Indian Rock Python’ found in India. It is a snake without poison. It is a protected species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.

Western Ghats snake habitat

It is noteworthy that the dense forests of India’s Western Ghats are the natural habitat of other snakes including the King Cobra. Snakes like the King Cobra usually live in forests because they find prey, water and safe places there.

However, a study has come out which shows that King Cobras and other snakes living in the forests are coming near the railway lines in search of food and prey and sometimes in the trains. Surat scientist and reptile expert Dikansh Parmar has done a unique research. Their study has shown that pythons, including the King Cobra, are possibly traveling in trains in India. Their reasoning behind this is that many railway lines going to Goa pass through dense forests.

Scientists believe that snake pythons sometimes come near tracks or trains in search of prey or shelter. In this way they reach such areas away from nature where it becomes difficult for them.

Reasons and prevention of finding snake in train (Source: AI)

It is noteworthy that the research of scientist and reptile expert Dikansh Parmar was published in the prestigious magazine ‘Biotropica’. Has also been published in, covering research on the ecology of the Americas and its conservation and management topics. Research published in this journal raises the possibility that the world’s longest venomous snake, the king cobra (Ophiophagus kalinga), may also be unknowingly traveling on long-distance trains. This study shows that the protection of snake species, including the king cobra, is a conservation challenge for all.

Study of 47 locations of King Cobra in Goa

Dikansh Parmar, along with a team of international scientists, studied 47 locations of king cobras in Goa, most of which are located in the remote forests of the Western Ghats. King cobras have also been found near five railway stations in Goa.

Last year, Rinku, a member of the Goa Animal Rescue Squad, had rescued a king cobra found near Chandor Railway Station in Goa. Dikansh Parmar studied 47 places rescued by Goa’s animal rescue groups. Of these, 18 locations were in North Goa and 29 locations were in South Goa. Scientists suspected that other species of snakes would also be in the Western Ghats.

Snakes come out in search of food

The study found that all these places were either near a railway station or near a railway line. According to him, ‘Goa-based animal rescue team saved a total of 120 king cobra snakes from 2002 to 2024. Since there are forests here, there are a lot of snakes and they come here in search of hunting or food and also reach the train through the railway tracks and stations. In this way they travel hundreds of kilometers and reach far away.

According to the study, King Cobra is found in Castle Rock and Dandeli Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. Now when these trains enter Goa, the snake stops in this area. In September 2021, Goa Animal Rescue Group rescued a cobra near Vasco-da-Gama. It was found just 200 meters away from the railway station. Three other cobras were also found around Lolim, Palolem and Pedane railway stations.

According to experts, all these five places were not the natural habitat of King Cobra, due to which researchers found this ‘surprising relationship’ between the snake and the rail. Has been seen. Snakes are moving from one place to another by train. The python baby found in the engine of Jan Shatabdi at CSMT on Wednesday probably came from Goa.

Pythons lay eggs during the rainy season

This is the time for pythons to lay eggs. This is the time for python eggs to hatch. With the arrival of monsoon in Mumbai and across Maharashtra, wildlife often seek shelter in human settlements or other seemingly safe places. There is also a speculation that the baby python might have entered the train engine to escape the rain or take shelter. This is how he must have reached this place.

A journey in search of rats and food!

Studies have also shown that king cobras or other snakes sometimes board freight trains or passenger trains while hunting rats or other insects in forested hilly railway yards, and are inadvertently being found in unsuitable conditions hundreds of kilometers away.

Research also revealed that species of snakes like King Cobra are generally found in the forests near Karnataka and those snakes were seen around the railway stations of Goa. Hence it was concluded that they must have reached around Goa through railways for some reason. In 2017, a snake was similarly rescued from Surat railway station which had reached there by traveling by train.

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Experts say that due to scattered grains, fruits or other packaged food items, rats gather around the railway tracks. Rats live there in large numbers and they are also a favorite food of snakes. Apart from searching for food, they can also take shelter in trains to find safe shelter in case of floods during the rainy season. If they move from one place to another through goods trains or passenger trains then it is dangerous for the humans and themselves as well.

Advice not to stop trains in forest areas

The researcher says that trains should not be stopped unnecessarily in forest areas. Apart from this, leftover food should not be kept in train coaches. Due to this, rats increase and then snakes and other animals can follow them. If snakes are making dens in trains then there is a need for awareness and clear guidelines in this matter.

Railways believes that such incidents can happen during monsoon or at any other time. In such a situation, citizens should not panic or try to catch or kill the snake, but should immediately contact the Forest Department or a trained snake keeper. It is necessary to carry out such rescue operations keeping in mind both wildlife protection and human safety. Central Railway has also appreciated the promptness of its locomotive staff and timely help of Animal Welfare Officers.