'Takshak Nag' found in Dang after 25 years

Kathmandu - After Takshak Nag bit King Parikshit, his son Janmejay tried to destroy the snake species by sacrificing snakes. The story of Takshak Nag's request to King Indra, King of heaven for the survival of the snake species can be read in Hindu scriptures. Legends describe the serpent as having supernatural powers and a king of snakes. Does a snake really have the power, it make us feel strange when we see and hear it? 

The answer is a bit complicated. Some snakes are scary in shape, not venomous. Some snakes that look normal are very venomous. Among the many species of snakes, there is also the snake named Takshak Nag. The name must have been influenced by the myth. People do not die from its bite, but this snake can fly.

Takshak snake was found in Ghorahi-2 Surkedangi of Dang district on September 25. Vasant Subedi, who has been rescuing snakes in Dang, got the news. They went to rescue him but by the time he arrived, the locals had killed him. The spring was reported by local Ashish Subedi. After a short delay, he saw that the snake was dead. The 'Takshak Nag', also known as 'Arnet Flying Snake' in English, is not an easy snake to be seen everywhere in Nepal. This species of snake is rarely seen.

According to reptile researchers, humans have found that snake species are still in danger of being killed. Such a situation makes it even more difficult to identify their species. According to rescue worker Subedi, the locals of Surkedangi said that they had seen such a snake for the first time. He was scared and killed without knowing whether it would bite or not. Such a snake was found in Dang 25 years ago. In 1995, Professor and snake expert Karan Bahadur Shah's research paper titled 'Enumeration of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal' mentions this snake.

"The Takshak snake is found in the area from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west, but it is rarely seen," says Professor Shah.

_{Photo courtesy: Vasant Subedi}

Apart from Nepal, records of this snake have been found in India, China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines. The male is slightly smaller than the female of this snake. The length of the male is 1.04 and that of the female is up to 1.1 meters, according to the book 'Harpito Fauna of Nepal' written by Professor Shah and Sagendra Tiwari. According to Professor Shah, it is the only flying snake found in Nepal. He said that the embroidered snake, which looks like a jewel, is called 'Arnet' from 'Ornament'. Experts say that this snake is named Arnett because it looks beautiful and is better than jewelry.

This snake, which is venomous on the back of the Bangara, is not poisonous to humans. He said that its poison would be enough to kill a bird. This snake, which usually feeds on birds and eggs, also eats mosquitoes and small tree creatures. It rarely eats frogs.

This snake can fly (glide) from one tree to another 27/28 feet, said Shah. The Department of Postal Services has also published a picture stamp of the only snake found in Nepal that can fly, looks more beautiful than others, is less venomous, rarely visible and has various other significance. It may have been named Takshak Nag as it is worshiped by some communities, said Professor Shah. This snake flattens its neck when it flies.

_{Postage stamp with picture of Takshak Nag}

This snake lays eggs in light green, yellow, black and red colors. Studies have shown that this snake, which is mostly active in the afternoon, prefers to live in dense forests and large trees.

In Dang, a man was found on the wall of a house and killed. Professor Shah said that it was wrong to kill this precious snake. He said, 'This snake looks just as good. Not so poisonous. It is priceless. '