Srinagar: A Levantine viper, locally known as ‘Gunas’, was reportedly spotted on the lawns of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s official residence here earlier this week.
A team from the wildlife department was deputed to the residence who caught the snake, an extremely dangerous creature, official sources said.
This is the third time when a wild animal has ventured into the former Chief Minister’s residence.
In April 2017, a cobra was found at the residence of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. In fact, Mehbooba had to delay her schedule after the snake was seen on the lawns of her Wazarat Road residence in Jammu. On August 26, 2013 a bear was seen around her residence at Srinagar.
The viper snake was caught by rescuer Aliya Mir and later released in Dachigam, where the reptile is found and it is presumed that it might have come from there.
The Levantine Viper is usually inactive during daytime, but quite alert and apt to attack swiftly, a wildlife official said.
