In conversation with a snake rescuer

 A country as populated as India is bound to experience some Human-Animal conflict. In the small town of Mysore, Karnataka many years ago, a man saw a little girl crying. There was a cobra. That’s when Shyam (or Snakes Shyam) rescued his first snake. Three decades later, SnakesShyam is known all over the country for rescuing well over 50,000 snakes, mostly in Mysore.

His son, Surya, now following his fathers’ footsteps, a conservationist, a naturalist ready at a moment’s notice to rescue snakes from people’s kitchens, bedrooms, water tanks,  basically anywhere. “It is not snakes that enter into our homes, humans have captured their habitat,” says Surya.

Snakes were killed at sight about a decade earlier. But now, It is because of people like Surya who are trying to change that by educating and bringing awareness to people. Now, people call in a professional when they see a snake and don’t kill the animal. Surya rescues about 7 snakes per day on an average.

What is your earliest memory with a snake? When did you start rescuing snakes?

“I remember a documentary was being shot on my dad, I must have been 3 years old. And I was crying because I wanted to hold a snake. That is when dad reached out inside a bag and removed a small slender snake and handed it over to me. I used to bring small trinket snakes to my room and try to observe their behavior. As I grew older, I accompanied dad on some rescues,  rescued some non-venomous snakes on my own, and then slowly advanced to rescuing venomous snakes.”

Rescue of an Indian Rock Python set for release in the heart of a tiger reserve.

What species are most commonly rescued from the homes of people in Mysore?

“Most common venomous snakes are the Spectacled Cobra (Naja Naja) and the Russels Viper. Most common non-venomous snakes are rat snakes, trinket snakes, checkered keelbacks, wolf snakes, green vine snakes to name a few”

What is the normal reaction of people when they see you rescuing snakes with such ease?

“Usually when I get calls, people on the other end are tensed. They want me to reach the location as soon as possible. People sometimes surround the snake that makes the animal nervous, and hence the snake gets in its defensive position. Stones being thrown at a snake is a common sight. After I reach the location, and after bagging the snake, people are surprised. They expect it to be some kind of an adventure. “This is it? It doesn’t bite?” is a common question. "

Rescued from behind a gas cylinder.

Have you been bitten by snakes?

“When I am rescuing nonvenomous snakes, I let them bite me. The snake will attack me 3 or 4 times and then realize I am not a threat. Fortunately, I have never been bitten by a venomous snake”

What must one do after getting bitten by a snake?

“Firstly, don’t harm the snake, leave it alone. And secondly, don’t panic. If you do panic, your heart rate will increase and blood will flow faster, hence the venom will spread faster.

Your first step will be to rush to the nearest hospital. Don’t try to suck the wound or cut the wound. Try remembering the look of the snake so you can describe it to your doctor, which will help him know if the snake was venomous or no”

How do you recognize a snake by just looking at the bite marks?

“By examining the jawline, Teeth marks, reaction period, it is fairly easy to conclude the type of species that has bitten the human”

Snakes are everywhere!

What do you do if you spot a snake?

“Try to recognize the snake and see if it is venomous or nonvenomous. If it is venomous, you call professional help. If not, I would suggest you leave the snake alone. If you do wish to move the snake, pick it up gently, and take it away. Do this only when you are 100% sure it is nonvenomous. Snakes will sense when you’re nervous and this will make them tense and will attack, hence, try being calm”

What are the challenges that you face?

"Getting calls at odd hours of the day, I think this is the only real challenge, otherwise, I love the job. Plus, the government and the Karnataka forest department are really cooperative. "

What Do you have to say about myths regarding snakes?

“When snakes are carved on stone, people worship them, pour milk over them. But when they actually spot a snake, people kill them. The snakes don’t drink milk! Thousands of snakes are tortured because of this during the Hindu festival of nagapanchami. A lot of people pour milk over termite mounds during that time of the year. People need to be made aware of this fact”

Finally, You always speak to the people present at the rescue after bagging the snake. What do you tell them?

“I tell them the species of the snake if the snake is venomous or no and their diet. I then proceed to tell them that snakes are not harmful, they keep the rodent population in check and hence snakes are a friend to the farmers. I try to make people aware that it is not a bad omen that a snake entered their house. I tell them that if they spot a snake in their garden, let them be. Don’t disturb them, they are in their natural habitat and won’t bite unless provoked.

I want people to stop fearing snakes. My whole vision has been to make people aware that snakes are not bad. They don’t bite.”

Follow Surya Keerthi on Instagram @suryakeerthi82 for more such rescue stories.