Red Sand Boa
Red Sand Boa Eryx johnii, commonly called the Indian Sand Boa, is a non-venomous species found throughout the dry parts of the Indian subcontinent.
It is a primarily reddish-brown and thick-set snake that grows to an average length of 75 cm.
Unlike most snakes, the tail is almost as thick as the body and gives the reptile the appearance of being "double-headed".
Largest of the sand boas in the world.
Ovoviviparous
Nocturnal and spends the majority of its time under the ground.
It is easily recognizable due to its shovel-shaped nose and a blunt tail which appears to be chopped off.
Like other snake species, the Red Sand Boa also plays a significant role in the ecosystem by maintaining a healthy population between prey and predator.
It feeds on rodents, lizards, and even other snakes.
Conservation:
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV
CITES: Appendix II
IUCN: Near threatened
Therefore, collection, trade or utilization of the species is prohibited in India.
Its international trade is further restricted under CITES.
Threats:
The sighting rates for Red Sand Boa are reported to have declined over the years.
Threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation.
Threatened by human-wildlife conflict.
Due to its benign nature, Red Sand Boa is easy to collect and smuggle. The price is determined as per its weight.
The smugglers have often been reported to feed this snake steel bullet or lead balls to increase its weight.
New age superstitions are reported to be a major driver of the illegal trade of the species. Such as:
bringing good luck to their keepers,
claiming that the snake contains rare elements that are highly expensive and have supernatural powers.
Cyberspace has further fueled its illegal trade, making it easier for buyers and sellers to connect.
Posts related to the sale and purchase of Red Sand Boa have been observed on various online trading platforms, where it is popularly known as a 'double engine'.
YouTube serves as a buyer-seller-interface for red sand boas in India, and sometimes acts as a gateway to facilitate trade via WhatsApp.
Besides this, Red Sand Boa is also poached for its medicinal values by local communities.
Recent report by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India:
WCS-India has pointed out 172 incidents of seizures of red sand boa (Eryx johnii) between the years 2016-2021.
The report points out that incidents of illegal sand boa trade were documented in 18 States and one Union Territory, covering 87 districts across India.
The highest number was recorded in Maharashtra (59), often from urban areas such as the districts of Pune (11), Thane (nine), Raigad (seven), and Mumbai Suburban (five).
The second highest number was recorded from Uttar Pradesh (33), often from regions in proximity to the international border with Nepal, such as the districts of Bahraich (eight) and Lakhimpur-Kheri (seven).
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