Together, these snakes represent some of the largest snake species of the world. While the Reticulated python is now acknowledged as one of the largest snakes in the world, the Burmese python is a near threatened species in its range in Burma. Illegal skin trade and habitat loss have taken a heavy toll and one ray of hope is forest of North East India where few populations survive. The species found in India commonly, the Indian Rock python has a high mortality rate due to human reptile conflict and habitat loss.

‘Living with Pythons’ aims to thus promote acceptance, awareness and understanding about these python species through conservation outreach and field based herpetology techniques. The initiative aims to achieve these objectives through on-field discussions, engagements with communities, youth and actively working with on-field Forest Department personnel.

It will also contribute to creating awareness on the issue of human- snake conflicts that are key to python survival in human dominated rural and urban landscapes.

Beside which the initiative proposes to address a need for a common protocol for Python rescue and release, as it will help minimize and address issues relating reptile-human conflict and provide vital answers to this growing challenge especially in urban India.