Two tribal youths in Manipur narrowly escaped fatal injuries when they caught a Russels viper thinking that it was a python.
Chonglien Khongsai and Thangam Mang mistook the venomous snake for the non-venomous python. The python had spots similar to that of the Russels Viper.
As the snake was weak owing to hibernation, the youth thought that it was a good idea to catch it.
They informed the local police who approached activists from People For Animals. The activists were shocked after seeing the photo of the snake as they realised that it was not a python, but the deadly Russels Viper.
The activists have said that the snake will be released in the wild.
Russels Viper is among the 'big four' snakes in the wild which includes Indian Cobra, Common Krait and Saw-scaled viper .
