Two-Headed Snake Found In West Bengal
Villagers in Ekarukhi, in Midnapore in West Bengal, welcomed a two-headed snake recently. To them, this visit was good news. So much so, they refused to hand it over to forest officials given their beliefs.
The snake strayed into Ekarukhi village and caused a stir as it became the centre of attention.
Villagers fed it milk and refused to hand it over to forest officials as they said they associated it with mythology.
Experts believe the two heads can be a result of the incomplete splitting of embryos or unfavourable environmental factors.
Kaustav Chakraborty, a herpetologist of the Forest Department spoke to news agency ANI and said, “This is totally a biological issue like a human being can have two heads or thumbs similarly this snake has two heads. This doesn't have to do anything related to mythological belief. The longevity of such species increases by keeping them in captivity. The life span of this snake can be increased if it is preserved.”
He also expressed his concerns over the longevity of the snake and said that the life span of such snakes can be increased by keeping them in captivity.
Talking about the snake, Soma Chakraborty - a zoologist - said that the double-headed snakes belong to the Naja Kautia species. This species is also known as Bengal Kharis, Keute and in Hindi, it is called Kala Naag, which is venomous.
Naja is a venomous species, also known as cobras. These species are mostly found in regions throughout Africa, Southwest Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. The origin of the name is from Sanskrit; that's where get the word 'naga' for 'snake.'
"There is no mythological thing in this case. There are many factors behind the formation of two heads. It might be formed at the time of splitting of the embryo or maybe due to some environmental factors," she told ANI.
While there was speculation that the villagers were reluctant to let go of the snake due to mythological beliefs, Belda range officer Sarbani Das said the locals told her staff they had released the reptile.
"When our staff reached the spot, the villagers told them that they had already released the snake into the forest," Das told IANS over the phone.
While some people found the snake rare and gorgeous, others managed to come up with memes.
Well, two-faced people have competition now! Tag your two-faced ‘friends’.
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