Residents of Balibhanda, a village on the outskirts of the city of Cuttack, had threatened to kill the 7-foot-long snake because they believed it might harm their children, The Calcutta Telegraph reported.

Bibhudatta Jena, the lawyer-conservationist, found the snake, an Indian rock python, early Monday.

"It was not difficult as the snake was molting and was relatively slow," he said.

Sudhanshu Mishra, the Cuttack forest officer, said that the snake was given to the Nandan Kan Zoo, where he believed it would be safer than in the wild.

The snake was actually on the small side for an Indian rock python. The species is the largest snake in India, with an average length of more than 12 feet and a record length of close to 20 feet.

The species is classified as "near threatened" on international lists. Indian rock pythons have often been killed for their beautiful skins and in some parts of the country for food.