Gurgaon: A red sand boa was rescued from four persons who were trying to sell it in Yamunanagar. The red sand boa is a snake listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.The accused, identified as Ram Singh, Kuldeep Sharma, Sagar, and Mohit, are all residents of Uttar Pradesh and were produced in a local court.Acting on a tip-off, a team of wildlife officials of the Haryana forest division with local police conducted a raid at the accuseds place and nabbed them with the snake.The red sand boa is a non-venomous species endemic to India, Pakistan, and Iran. It is known for its blunt, rounded tail, which often gives it the appearance of being double-headed. Over six years, between January 2016 and December 2021, WCS-India, an NGO working on wildlife conservation, recorded 172 instances of the illegal sand boa trade across the country.The snake is categorized in Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protected Act 1972, which bans possession and trafficking. The snake is in high demand in the illegal market. These snakes are sold in the global market and fetch Rs 5 lakh on an average, said Vishal Kaushik, deputy chief wildlife warden, Panchkula division.The red sand boa is a rare species of snake that is in high demand around the world. This is because it is used in the production of medicines, cosmetics, and in black magic. The species has a decreasing population trend in most of its habitat ranges, wildlife officials from Haryana said.The red sand boa is found in dry parts of the country and prefers loose soil that breaks easily, creating burrows where it spends most of its time. It is a nocturnal species that leaves its burrow at night searching for prey. It feeds on mammals like rats, mice, and other small rodents. We also published the following articles recentlyBhutan, India, Nepal to counter wildlife traffickingBhutan, India, and Nepal are collaborating to combat wildlife trafficking and trade in South Asia. The joint project aims to strengthen law enforcement agencies and the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN). A Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop was held in Dehradun, with senior officials from forest departments, customs, police, and paramilitary forces attending. The training focuses on increasing interdiction of illegal wildlife trade, enhancing investigative and enforcement capabilities, and improving cross-border coordination. Topics covered include an overview of wildlife crime, CITES implementation, regional coordination, and lessons from successful conservation efforts.Illegal sand mining: Main accused in Jamui SI murder case surrendersThe main accused in the Jamui sub-inspector Prabhat Ranjan murder case, Krishna Ravidas, surrendered in the local district court following pressure from the police. Ravidas had been evading arrest for 10 days after mowing down Ranjan with a tractor during a raid. He surrendered in the chamber of a lawyer who helped him surrender before the court. The police have arrested all the accused persons in the murder case and are trying to take Ravidas on remand for interrogation.The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes scores impressive $98.5 million weekend at global box office"The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" topped the North American box office with $44 million in ticket sales. It was a busy weekend with multiple releases including "The Marvels," which had a record 78% drop in its second weekend. "Trolls World Tour" debuted in second place with $30.6 million. Taika Waititis soccer comedy "Next Goal Wins" made $2.5 million. "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is a prequel to "The Hunger Games" franchise and earned $98.5 million worldwide in its opening weekend. Lionsgate considers it a strong start for the new era.

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