A 10-foot-long Indian Rock Python that strayed into a residential society in Mulund was safely rescued and rehabilitated by the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) on Tuesday.
The NGO received a distress call on its helpline in the afternoon after residents spotted the massive snake inside the society premises, triggering panic. Rescue responders Joaquim Nayak and Rahul Panchal were immediately dispatched to the site to carry out the operation.
A 10-foot Indian rock python was safely rescued and rehabilitated by RAWW after it caused panic in a Mulund housing society on Tuesday. Displaced by heavy rains and unable to find a way out, the snake had climbed a tree and was surrounded by crowds. With Forest Department… pic.twitter.com/plqt5L3QCE
— Mid Day (@mid_day) August 20, 2025
RAWW president Pawan Sharma said the python had climbed a tree as a large crowd gathered to watch, adding to the reptile’s stress. “The snake was safely rescued and medically evaluated by Dr. Priti Sathe, our associate veterinarian, and was declared fit. It had likely been displaced due to heavy rains and was exhausted while searching for a route back to its habitat. Since the rescue site was less than a kilometre from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) periphery, we decided to intervene,” Sharma said.
He explained that allowing the snake to pass on its own was not possible as it was trapped within the residential complex, surrounded from all sides. The intervention was carried out with approval from the Forest Department.
“In Mumbai suburbs that share space with the core areas of SGNP or Aarey, safe passage is not always feasible. Intervention becomes necessary in the interest of both the animal and people. In this case, the reptile was already disoriented due to displacement and would have struggled to find its way back,” Sharma added.
Following the rescue, the python was released into its natural habitat in coordination with the Mumbai Range of the Thane (Territorial) Forest Department.
