Mysuru: Mother’s day, celebrated world wide on May 10th,  got an emotional touch with a Russell’s Viper (Kolaku Mandala Haavu in Kannada), one of the poisonous snakes of viviparous family , giving birth to 75 baby snakes on Sunday morning in the city.

A pregnant snake was captured by city based renowned snake enthusiast Snake Shyam in the wee hours of Saturday from the outer ring road in Dattagalli. He rescued the snake and brought it to his house prior to releasing the same in the forest next day.  He was surprised in the morning, when he observed that the Russell’s Viper was all coiled up cosily with its newly born babies. According to Shyam, the Russell’s viper may have delivered between 2 am and 8 am. Incidentally yesterday was Mother’s day.  

Both the mother and its 75 babies are doing well in Snake Shyam’s rehabilitation centre for snakes. The whole family would be released in forest after two or three days, Shyam said. The captured snake was approximately 4.5 feet length and about 16 to 20 kg including its 75 babies.
Explaining the situation, Shyam said “I got call from an unknown number, saying that a traveler found a snake when he stopped his vehicle for a nature’s call. He reported that the snake was  hissing, something it does when it feels threatened. The unknown traveler expressed concern that the snake may become a threat to other travelers and residents of nearby area”.

“Responding to him, I quickly reached the spot and captured the snake” said Snake Shyam, who is also a councillor of the Mysuru City Corporation, and has been rendering this service to the public regularly.

The rescued snake,  Russell’s Viper is one of the most dangerous snakes in the world and it produces hemotoxin when it bites, which leads to the formation of gangrene.