New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) The Delhi zoo has recorded the hatching of an Indian rat snake after seven years, with officials saying the development marked a step forward in the zoo’s efforts to breed native reptile species through scientific management.
A zoo official said one hatchling emerged last week and is currently being cared for by the animal keepers.
The breeding pair of Indian rat snakes had been brought from Patna in mid-April and underwent the mandatory quarantine period before being housed at the zoo, the official said.
He said the female rat snake laid eggs in the last week of May, following which the eggs were shifted to an artificial incubation facility.
The hatchling was recorded after the incubation period and is being closely monitored to ensure its healthy growth, he added.
The Indian rat snake was first put on public display at the Delhi zoo in 2011. At the time, the zoo housed seven rat snakes for visitors. However, over the years their numbers declined, and the last surviving rat snake died in 2025.
To revive the species in its reptile collection, the zoo brought a breeding pair from Patna in April, officials said.
According to the zoo, artificial incubation allows zoo authorities to maintain suitable temperature and humidity levels required for the successful development of reptile eggs. The technique also enables continuous monitoring of eggs and hatchlings during the incubation process.
The zoo is continuing to monitor the remaining eggs and will keep them under incubation until the hatching process is complete. The process will remain under veterinary observation and routine care in the coming weeks, the official said.
The successful hatching forms part of the zoo’s ongoing conservation and captive breeding initiatives aimed at strengthening populations of indigenous reptile species and improving scientific management practices for wildlife under human care, he added. PTI SHB ARI
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