Recently, during free plant distribution by Department of Forest, Dhanusha at Dhanushadham Protected Forest, our chairman spotted a Common Tree Snake (Dendrelephis tristis) in the nursery. It is about 3.5 Ft. long.
According to Indiansnakes.org and a book written by Herpetological Society of India, it is found only in Peninsular India. So, it’s quite exiting for our organization to find the snakes not to be the habitat in this area. This is the Second species of the snakes; first one was a pair of Forsten’s Cat Snake (Boiga forsteni) which was also spotted last time in the forest.
The rescue was assisted by Mr. Dhirendra Nepal, from Talk Nepal Pvt. Ltd. who is the project incharge for plantation of 33 Hectare forest land inside Dhanushadham Protected Forest, funded by NCell. He also mentioned that he had spotted a Green Keelback/ Grass Snake (Macropisthodon plumbicolor) inside the forest during plantation. Again, this is the species which is not to be native relatives of the area.
As we have already mentioned in our previous posts, Dhanushadham Protected Forest is the only forest situated in Terai region of Dhanusha district. Due to our day and night service to the forest, the 95% problems to the forest (i.e. overgrazing, land encroachment, community made fire, illegal tree logging, wildlife poaching, and heavy trespassers) have been shorted out.
Together Mithila Wildlife Trust and Department of Forest with help and participation of local community, the conservation programmes are being carried out successfully.
We are in need of donors and supporters who can support us in measure developments for the sustainability of the conservation and restoration of the forest.
Please contact info@mwt.org.np/index or dev@mwt.org.np/index if you are interested in the projects.