Thirteen Phipson’s shieldtail snakes were found by wildlife enthusiast Omkar Dhore while cleaning a small polyhouse, a type of greenhouse where a specialised polythene sheet is used as a covering material, in Vadgaon, Maval taluka, Pune district, on February 4. Dhore informed Jigar Solanki, a member of the Wildlife Rescuer of Maval organisation, on noticing movement on the floor of the polyhouse. Upon searching a small area of about three to four feet in a corner, the snakes were found one after another. Such a discovery is considered a rare occurrence.

According to wildlife experts, the Phipson’s shieldtail, a fossorial, burrowing snake of the Western ghats, spends most of its life underground, coming to the surface mainly during heavy rain, flooding of burrows, or when disturbed by digging or construction activity in the area. Solanki told mid-day that this group included juveniles, sub-adults, and fully grown adults.