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22 Indian Rock Python Hatchlings Released Into Wild After Artificial Incubation

This effort by RAWW alongside the Maharashtra Forest Department demonstrates how artificial incubation can boost survival of protected species.

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Overview

  • On May 18, BMC workers found a nine-foot Indian Rock Python guarding 22 eggs in a drain on Mumbai’s Eastern Express Highway, prompting a joint rescue by RAWW and state forest officials.
  • At RAWW’s wildlife rehabilitation facility, zoologist Chinmay Joshi incubated the eggs in a makeshift chamber with temperatures held at 21°C–23°C and humidity at 65%–80% to replicate natural nesting conditions.
  • All 22 hatchlings emerged over a 24-hour period between June 24 and 25, achieving a rare 100% success rate for artificially incubated python eggs.
  • Following veterinary health screenings led by Dr Priti Sathe, the young pythons were released into their natural habitat on June 25 under forest department supervision.
  • Indian Rock Pythons are protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act and classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, underscoring the operation’s role in species conservation.