Our Reptiles
It was a summer morning in Lawacherra National Park. I went there to photograph the Pig-Tailed Macaque, a primate with a tiny curled tail. Luckily, my guide Taposh and I found one quickly near the park entrance. Mission accomplished early in the day, we went for a longer hike in the magnificent forest.
We entered through a road lined with rows of majestic Rokton trees. After crossing the railroad tracks running through the park, a grove of Loha-kath trees appeared, tall, wearing leaves like jewels. I spotted a Necklaced Laughingthrush bobbing on a branch. A large butterfly, perhaps eight inches across, fluttered by and sat on a leaf. My camera stayed busy.
We were leaving after two hours when I saw a smaller trail to my left. Some nice-looking trees rose along the trail, beckoning my camera. I followed the trail while looking at the trees through my viewfinder. Photographs taken, I lowered my camera and looked ahead. My legs froze. Five or six feet away was a large snake, curled in a U-shape on the trail, basking in the sun. It was the first time I saw a Python – a Rock Python – in the wild. Its skin had a beautiful pattern. Though I was frightened, I learned later that it was quite harmless.
Snakes are reptiles, cold-blooded animals that lay eggs. Reptiles also include lizards, turtles and crocodiles. Bangladesh has approximately 130 species of reptiles, including 69 species of snakes.
The Python was the largest snake I ever saw, but my largest reptile was an old, mature Estuarine Crocodile in Sundarban. Monitor Lizards can also grow quite large. You can see Monitors prowling in Dhaka's Botanical Garden.
Various types of wild lizards, kinks and geckos can be seen in any vegetation. One of these, the Tokkhok informs us of his presence with his startling loud call: kok-kay, kok-kay!
The snake I have encountered most is the Checkered Keelback. Known as Dhora Shap in Bangla, it is equally at home in water and land, eating small fish, frogs and insects. Harmless and very frightened of people, it slithers away quickly whenever it senses a human. However, once I saw it swimming in a small puddle at dusk. It did not notice me. I watched in amazement as it shrunk and stretched, twisted and turned, probing the puddle's crevices for food. After remaining still for some time, I moved a little. It disappeared instantaneously.
In Sundarban, I saw a Brown Vine Snake. It had looped itself in a circle around a Hargoza bush, its tail next to its head. From the distance it looked like a long thin rope. For survival it stayed absolutely still, avoiding the sharp eye of predatory Serpent Eagles.
Snakes strike fear in people. But most snakes I encountered ran for their lives when they saw me. A Darash once escaped when he saw me thirty feet away. I have heard that the dreaded Alot (King Cobra) chases anyone who comes too close to its nest. I am not eager to meet one. However, it would be nice to see the non-venomous Bronzeback Tree Snake, reputed to be the most beautifully coloured snake in our country.
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