Forsten’s cat snake sighted in Kanakagiri hills in Khammam
Nature enthusiasts spotted the rare Forsten’s cat snake in the Kanakagiri hills spread across Khammam and Kothagudem districts. The sighting is believed to be the first recorded instance in Telangana and highlights the rich biodiversity of the Puligundala reserve forest range
Khammam: A few nature enthusiasts have spotted Forsten’s cat snake (Boiga forsteni) in the Kanakagiri hills spread across Khammam and Kothagudem districts.
It is said to be the first-ever recorded sighting of a Forsten’s cat snake in Telangana. Earlier sightings were recorded in the Nallamala forests and Tirumala hills in Andhra Pradesh. It is mostly found on trees and grows up to 5 to 7.5 feet long.
Named in honour of Dutch naturalist Eltio Alegondas Forsten, Forsten’s cat snake is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South Asia and falls under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) least concern category.
Kothagudem-based nature enthusiast Sujeeth Anne of Meraki Organisation, along with four other nature lovers, spotted the reptile a few days ago during a birding and herping expedition. Its eyes resemble those of cats and it is an excellent climber like most cats, he told Telangana Today.
Sujeeth stated that the sighting of the Forsten’s cat snake, which is over five feet long, in the Kanakagiri hills in Puligundala reserve forest range indicates the forest’s rich biodiversity. He said his team has planned to take up a biodiversity survey to search for reptiles and insect life during this monsoon season.
It may be noted that the team spotted the Blue-eared Kingfisher, the first documented record in Telangana, in the Kanakagiri hills. The bird species was earlier sighted in the Maredumilli forests in Alluri Sitharama Raju district of Andhra Pradesh.
Other notable bird sightings include Black-winged Kite, Rufous Woodpecker, White-rumped Munia, Blue-throated Blue Flycatcher and Black-rumped Shama. The sighting of mammals such as the Malabar Giant Squirrel and Termite Hill Gecko showcases the reserve forest’s rich biodiversity, he said.