LUCKNOW, Dec. 3 -- A Rainbow Water Snake (Enhydris enhydris) was spotted for the first time in Uttar Pradesh, with photographic evidence collected from the buffer area of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.

Vipin Kapoor Sainy, outreach officer-cum-field biologist, who recorded the presence of the snake, said that this species was encountered twice by him, both times in live condition, making the record even more valuable.

"The first sighting was documented on November 7 from the buffer forest adjoining the road network of Dudhwa, while an earlier sighting was on September 7 near Changa Nala, Belraya Range (Core Zone)," said Sainy.

During the second encounter, Sainy was accompanied by Rohit Ravi (senior project officer), Apoor Gupta, field biologist,...