- An Indian forest ranger was nearly strangled by an 18-foot python he'd captured.
- The man posed for photos with the deadly snake over his shoulders.
- The snake soon started writhing and began coiling around his neck before it was pulled off by a man in the crowd.
A forest ranger in West Bengal, India, diced with death after posing for photos with an 18-foot python he'd caught.
Sanjoy Dutta had reportedly been called to the village seen in the footage to capture a rock python killing and eating a goat.
Dutta held the powerful snake over his shoulders as onlookers took photos and selfies.
However, the animal soon became distressed and started writhing in the man's arms.
The ranger staggered away from the crowd as the snake began to coil around his neck and people were heard screaming.
#WATCH Narrow escape for Sanjoy Dutta, Range Officer of Baikunthapur Forest in Jalpaiguri after a python he rescued from a village almost strangled him to death while he was posing for selfies with locals. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/KroJHOCOkk
— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2018
Fortunately, someone from the crowd stepped in and managed to wrestle the reptile away from Dutta's throat as he shouted, "Hold the tail, hold the tail."
Indian rock pythons kill by biting and constricting, not injecting venom. They can grow to an enormous 23-feet and weigh up to 140kg, according to the BBC.
Nature and wildlife writer Janaki Lenin warned that the animal had been mishandled after capture.
This is called manhandling. An animal has to be put away in a bag or a box immediately after capture. Prolonging hold on its neck isn't good for its survival. Posing with selfies is not a part of any rescue operation https://t.co/6xY90OsfIx
— Janaki Lenin (@JanakiLenin) June 18, 2018
Other commenters were also unsympathetic to Dutta's near-death experience.
Exactly! 30 seconds of fame nearly cost the ranger's life. The animal was only reacting instinctively because it felt threatened. Would've been another "death by selfie."
— Trishna W. (@WahengD) June 18, 2018
Serves him right! Selfie with a python...what next? https://t.co/DSl2HZ1f8Q
— Vidya Sinha (@vidsin) June 18, 2018
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