In what appears to be a daring theft attempt, a Red Sand Boa snake, usually used for black magic purposes, was stolen from the Veer Jijamata Udyan (Byculla Zoo). Incidentally, this is the first time that an animal has been stolen from the zoo.
The incident came to light on Saturday when zoo authorities spotted that the lock of the cage of the snake enclosure was broken and the Red Sand Boa was missing. “There were 10 snakes, including dangerous pythons and cobras, which were untouched. This is the first time ever that an animal has been stolen from the zoo. We have registered a theft complaint at the Byculla police station,” said Anil Anjankar, director of the zoo.
The non-poisonous Red Sand Boa is known as a double-headed snake because of a blunt tail that resembles a second head. There is a huge demand for the snake in the illegal market, as there is a myth that the reptile has supernatural powers. The snake is supposed to bring good fortune to its keeper.
There are several myths associated with the Red Sand Boa.