Python rescued from dance troupe during Ganesh procession in Hyderabad
Animal welfare activists and police in Hyderabad rescued an Indian rock python that was being used in a dance performance during a Ganesh immersion procession. The handler was apprehended, and the reptile is currently under veterinary care for an oral infection.
Why it matters
This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding animal cruelty and the illegal use of protected wildlife in public cultural events.
An Indian rock python , allegedly used during a dance performance at a Ganesh immersion procession, was rescued by animal welfare activists with the assistance of the police in Hyderabad on Sunday (September 20, 2026).
Soudhram Bhandari from the Greater Hyderabad Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GHSPCA) said that the team had been tracking a dance group from Visakhapatnam for five days following information that a live snake was being used during its performances.
The team had attempted to intervene during a Ganesh immersion procession in Kondapur on September 19, but the alleged snake handler fled before he could be apprehended.
After receiving information about the group’s presence at another procession in Jawaharnagar the following day, GHSPCA coordinated with the Madhuranagar Police and reached the spot.
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