Peahen and snake rescued from unused well

Thanjavur, Dec 4 (UNI) An adult peahen and a poisonous viper snake were rescued from an 80 feet deep unused well in a joint operation by the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Service Department personnels and Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), after four days of ordeal at the Tamil University premises, here today.

EWT Secretary Melvynn Selvan told UNI that about 150 peacocks and peahens were living in the small jungle inside the University campus. Noticing a peahen inside the well on Friday, Vice Chancellor of the University C Subramahnian sought the help of the fire service personnel to rescue the bird.

A team from the fire service department rushed tothe spot and ventured into the well. However, the team abadoned their rescue operation, after seeing a viper snake inside the well.

Since the bottom of the well was very narrow, they were not able to rescue the bird, and the snake was very ferocious.

Fire service personel contacted EWT for its assisitance to rescue the peahen and the snake. Kaliyaperumal, a fire service person and Melvynn Selvan, both of them undertook the rescue operation with the help of ropes. They managed to save both the bird and snake today.

The very interesting thing was that the peahen had laid two eggs inside the well and was sitting over them to hatch.

However, the two eggs were found to be in a rotten stage and were thrown out. The bird was later let out into the jungle and the snake was taken to the trust for its care, as it was found to be dehydrated for want of food and water. Once the condition of the snake was improved, it would be let out into the reserve forest in Trichy, he added.

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