A rehearsal by a popular jatra troupe in Odisha’s Jajpur district has sparked a wildlife law probe after a video showed actor Sai Satyajit Panda handling a live African ball python on stage.
The rehearsal took place on Tuesday for the play ‘Ei Bodhe Sesha Dekha’ by the Tulasi Gananatya troupe at Chandikhole. The viral footage triggered public backlash and concerns over the illegal use of wild animals in live performances, prohibited under India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
In response to the controversy, the Bairi Forest Range Office summoned Panda for an explanation. On Wednesday, he appeared before officials and clarified that the python in question was a non-venomous, exotic African ball python—a species not protected under Indian wildlife schedules.
“It was a legally purchased pet, not a wild-caught animal. The snake was not harmed or misused in any way,” Panda said to reporters. “Many in Bhubaneswar keep these snakes as pets. Because I’m an actor, the video got more attention than it deserved.”
Panda, who played the role of a forest ranger in the production, claimed the reptile was used during a private rehearsal, not in a public show. He stressed that no wildlife law was knowingly violated and that the act was part of a character portrayal.
Range Officer Adwit Kumar Pradhan confirmed Panda’s appearance and stated that while no FIR has been filed yet, the department is examining whether the use of the python—even if exotic and legal as a pet—requires prior clearance under performing animal and environmental guidelines.
The Forest Department has not issued further comments but indicated that the matter remains under active investigation.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, the public display or use of wild or exotic animals without clearance from the appropriate authority can invite legal consequences, regardless of whether the species is native or imported. The incident has reignited the debate over ethical boundaries in traditional performance arts, especially in rural theatre formats like jatra.
This case may potentially set a precedent for how exotic pets are regulated in public performances going forward.
