The Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT), trained and supported by WildTeam and working in close coordination with the Bangladesh Forest Department, successfully rescued a python from Nangli village under Rayenda Union of Morrelganj Upazila, near the Dhanshagor Forest Station in the Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans, on the morning of 13 April.

The incident occurred when a python entered a villager's homestead and preyed on two domestic ducks. After feeding, the snake was found resting beside the duck enclosure, prompting the local community to alert VTRT members. Responding swiftly, the trained team safely rescued the snake without causing harm to either the animal or nearby residents, preventing panic and potential retaliation.

According to field observations, the python measured approximately 10 feet in length, with a girth of around 9 inches and an estimated weight of 13 kilograms. Following standard wildlife handling protocols, the snake was released alive into a suitable habitat adjacent to the Sundarbans near Dhanshagor Forest Station.

The Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT) represents a unique, community-led conservation model in the Sundarbans landscape. These are independent volunteer groups formed within forest-edge communities who act as the first responders during wildlife-related incidents. While WildTeam provides structured training, technical guidance, and logistical support, the VTRTs operate autonomously-making their own decisions in the field, responding rapidly based on local knowledge, and maintaining strong coordination with the Forest Department. This balance of capacity support and local ownership has made the VTRT approach both effective and sustainable.

Over the years, VTRTs have built a strong reputation for safely managing human-wildlife conflict situations, including rescuing animals that stray into villages, crowd control during emergencies, and ensuring safe release back into natural habitats. Their contribution has been nationally recognised through the National Award for Wildlife Conservation in 2017, acknowledging their outstanding role in wildlife protection and community-based conservation.

This rescue reflects ongoing efforts under WildTeam's five-year programme, "Protecting Bengal Tiger and Biodiversity of the Sundarbans," supported by Echotex and Echoknits, a Bangladesh-UK joint venture. The programme focuses on strengthening grassroots response systems like the VTRT, improving safety for forest-dependent communities, and reducing human-wildlife conflict through practical, field-based interventions.

WildTeam's current approach builds on earlier experience from the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme, implemented with support from German Cooperation through KfW and IUCN. These initiatives have contributed to developing effective local response mechanisms and enhancing community preparedness across Sundarbans-adjacent areas.

As human-wildlife interactions continue in the Sundarbans landscape, particularly during high-risk periods such as the honey collection season, the role of community-based response groups like VTRT remains critical. Their timely intervention in incidents like this not only protects human lives and livelihoods but also ensures that wildlife is conserved through safe, humane handling and release.