Long-snouted Vine Snake:
A rare long-snouted vine snake (Ahaetulla longirostris) was rediscovered in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh during a rhino release operation in the Palia Kheri division.
- This marks the first recorded sighting in Uttar Pradesh and only the second documented instance in India.
- The species was previously seen only in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar, and some parts of Odisha, with its natural range usually in Southeast Asia.
- Ahaetulla longirostris belongs to the Colubridae family, which includes mostly non-venomous snakes.
- It has a long, slender body that is typically bright green or brown, helping it to camouflage in foliage.
- A distinctive elongated snout (rostral extension) differentiates it from other vine snakes.
- It is an arboreal species, living on trees and easily blends with leaves and branches.
- It is mildly venomous, but not dangerous to humans.
- Dudhwa Tiger Reserve located on the Indo-Nepal border in Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh.
- The reserve includes Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, and forest areas of North Kheri, South Kheri, and Shahjahanpur.
- It lies within the Tarai-Bhabar zone of the Upper Gangetic Plains Biogeographic Province.
