Navi Mumbai: Busy season for snake rescue group in Uran taluka, rescues over 150 snakes so far in monsoon

Friends of Nature, a group of snake rescuers rescued a 7 feet long python with the help of a villager in Jui Koproli in Uran taluka on Saturday night. The villager noticed the reptile was sitting in the middle of the road and accordingly, he informed the rescue group. Two members of the snake rescue team reached there and rescued the python. The snake was later released into the nearby forest area.

The snake group has a busy time as they are getting a large number of calls. During the monsoon, a number of reptiles, especially snakes, come out of their burrows after they are filled with water.

Jayant Thakur, a senior member of Friends of Nature said that they have more than 25 members in the rescue group, and they receive at least four to five rescue calls every day from Uran taluka alone. The taluka has a lot of forest and hill areas that house a large number of reptiles including python. “Since the onset of the monsoon, we have already rescued around 150 snakes in Uran taluka alone,” said Thakur, adding that the majority of them are being reported from kaccha houses in villages. However, he said that there were instances of snakes found in urban areas.

According to Thakur, apart from a few snakes, most of them complete their breeding period by the time monsoon arrives in Maharashtra. “Even small snakes have grown enough to move easily and there is a need to take extra precaution,” said Thakur, adding that sleeping on the floor should be avoided during the monsoon and one must stand at a safe distance after noticing a snake. “There are snake rescuers in almost every area and they should be called if anyone notices. Even the fire brigade should be called,” said Thakur. He added that only a few of the snakes are poisonous. “Despite this fact, people should avoid going near them as they can attack in their defense,” said Thakur.