Around 11 p.m., people near Radio Colony in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, were startled by a large white python outside the neighborhood. The snake was removed safely, but its presence left forest officials with a difficult question: How did it get there?
Here's what to know
According to The Free Press Journal, people who saw the snake called local snake rescuer Sarpamitra Aakash Rathore, who came to the spot and secured it.
#WATCH | Rare White Python Rescued Outside Radio Colony In Madhya Pradesh's #Chhatarpur #MadhyaPradesh #MPNews #Python https://t.co/hUOZc5Hy2w
— Free Press Madhya Pradesh (@FreePressMP) October 17, 2026
Rathore said the reptile stood out because of its color and that it could be an albino python.
Its size made the capture difficult. The outlet described the python as large and heavy-bodied.
Rishi Mishra, the divisional forest officer, identified the snake as an exotic Burmese python. It was taken to Mukundpur Safari's reptile enclosure while officials investigated how it came to Chhatarpur.
More background
The python turned up in a residential part of the city with no clear account of its arrival. Officials were trying to determine when it reached Chhatarpur, where it came from, how it got there, and whether a person brought it into the area.
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If the exotic python was transported into the urban area, the encounter may have been shaped less by natural movement than by someone moving wildlife beyond its typical range. Broader reporting on human-wildlife encounters has noted how human actions affect where and how these interactions occur.
The constrictor drew both attention and alarm, with people gathering to watch. In a residential setting, a large snake can create safety concerns for households, onlookers, and rescuers.
If people were keeping or moving the snake, the incident may lead to more questions about how the exotic reptile ended up in the populated neighborhood.
What's being done?
Once residents reached out, Rathore handled the rescue and secured the python with care despite the difficulty created by its bulk and weight. Forest officials then transferred the animal to the Mukundpur Safari.
Residents contacted the trained rescuer rather than trying to catch the snake themselves. In this case, that decision prevented the encounter from becoming even more dangerous.
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