An Indian forest ranger found himself in a bind after a python briefly strangled him while he posed for selfies with it. Wildlife officer Sanjay Dutta (centre) was called on Sunday by frantic villagers in West Bengal after they saw the 40kg python swallowing a goat alive. Instead of placing it safely inside a bag, the ranger wrapped it around his neck and posed for pictures with stunned villagers. But panic spread as the snake wound itself around Mr Dutta's neck, forcing him to struggle to free himself from its grip. He escaped unscathed, but a little red-faced. West Bengal's forest department has launched an official inquiry into his conduct. But Mr Dutta said he only wanted to save the reptile, and that he did not have a bag to carry the snake, which he transported to a safe location in his car.