<p>When the residents of Kothnur village in the taluk found a red sand boa, they immediately informed Snake Nagaraj. Nagaraj, who caught the snake, released it into the forest in the presence of Forest Officers Ramesh and Shankarappa.<br /><br />Red sand boas are extremely shy, harmless and non-poisonous snakes. Since they stay under the surface and dig soil they have strong and hard heads. Interestingly, the rear of their tails resemble their heads, giving rise to the misconception that they are two-headed, Nagaraj said.</p>.<p>A nocturnal species, they hunt during the night. When faced with danger, they curl up and cover their heads. The snakes, in order to mislead other animals and predators, raise and shake their tails. <br /><br />As a result, the tails of sand boas are always injured, he added.<br /><br />Though the young ones of the snakes are orange in colour, a fully grown snake is red in colour and 75 cm long.<br /><br />The snake usually stays in loose soil and is regarded as a friend of farmer as it preys on rodents and other animals which destroy crops. Red sand boas don’t lay eggs but directly give birth to six to eight young ones in the month of June. <br /><br />The species is found in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and in some parts of north-western India.<br /><br />Forest Officer Ramesh said that blind beliefs like possessing red sand boas leads to increase in wealth and rumours that it is worth lakhs of rupees has not only put the species at risk but many people have been cheated by swindlers promising to get the snakes.<br /><br />Last year, police arrested culprits in Dibbur who allegedly tried to sell a red sand boa.<br /></p>
<p>When the residents of Kothnur village in the taluk found a red sand boa, they immediately informed Snake Nagaraj. Nagaraj, who caught the snake, released it into the forest in the presence of Forest Officers Ramesh and Shankarappa.<br /><br />Red sand boas are extremely shy, harmless and non-poisonous snakes. Since they stay under the surface and dig soil they have strong and hard heads. Interestingly, the rear of their tails resemble their heads, giving rise to the misconception that they are two-headed, Nagaraj said.</p>.<p>A nocturnal species, they hunt during the night. When faced with danger, they curl up and cover their heads. The snakes, in order to mislead other animals and predators, raise and shake their tails. <br /><br />As a result, the tails of sand boas are always injured, he added.<br /><br />Though the young ones of the snakes are orange in colour, a fully grown snake is red in colour and 75 cm long.<br /><br />The snake usually stays in loose soil and is regarded as a friend of farmer as it preys on rodents and other animals which destroy crops. Red sand boas don’t lay eggs but directly give birth to six to eight young ones in the month of June. <br /><br />The species is found in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and in some parts of north-western India.<br /><br />Forest Officer Ramesh said that blind beliefs like possessing red sand boas leads to increase in wealth and rumours that it is worth lakhs of rupees has not only put the species at risk but many people have been cheated by swindlers promising to get the snakes.<br /><br />Last year, police arrested culprits in Dibbur who allegedly tried to sell a red sand boa.<br /></p>
