INDIA. Mumbai: The volunteers of the Amma Care Foundation (ACF) and Plant & Animals Welfare Society- Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai) rescued five pythons in two days from different parts of Mumbai.
The volunteers Sushmita Dighe, Sunil Gupta, Akash Panadaya, Hitesh Yadav and Ritik Jaiswal, rescued five Indian rock pythons, based on distress calls, received from alert citizens. After examination by veterinarian Dr. Manish Pingle, the snakes were released in their natural habitat in consultation with the forest department officials. The team was led by honorary wildlife warden Sunish Subramanian and wildlife activist Nisha Kunju.
A snake rescued from fishnet
A viper snake was rescued from a fishnet at Juhu seashore in northwest Mumbai by the ACF and PAWS team after a distress call received from Akshay Kumar Mangela, who spotted a snake entangled in a fishnet. Sushmita Dighe rushed to the spot at Moregaon, Juhu. On reaching the spot, she noticed that a venomous snake Russell Viper was entangled in a nylon fishnet and was badly injured. The task to rescue the snake was difficult. As such, she called Sunil Gupta for help. Both of them rescued the 3 feet long snake. It was taken to Veterinarian Dr. Manish Pingle since the net was entangled near the jaw of the snake.
The net had circled the neck and many net threads were trapped in the commissure of the jaw, due to which the snake’s jaw was locked. The snake was struggling in pain and stress. It was relieved from net threads, very gently after administering mild sedation using fine instruments to avoid injury. No major wounds were noticed after removal of all nylon threads After giving stress-relieving treatment. it was found fit to release in nature. The snake could be saved due to prompt medical help rendered by Dr. Manish Pingle, Subramanian said.
In another case, Akash Panadaya and Sunil Gupta rescued, around 2 feet long venomous Russel wiper (Cobra), fallen in a water drum of a household at Borivali in North Mumbai. The snake was spotted by Ganesh Chaudhary a resident of a chawl at Saibaba Nagar. After informing Forest Department and fitness examination, it was released in its natural habitat.
The chronology of the rescue operations was: July 01, Thursday: Distress call received was received at 09.55 am from Vipul Patel stating that a snake was spotted at BMC Ground, opposite Witty International School in Chikuwadi, Borivli West, following which a 5 feet long Indian Rock Python was rescued by Sunil Gupta.
In another case on the same day, seven feet long Indian Rock Python was rescued from Bangdiwala Chawl in Bandra West in northwest Mumbai at 10:40 am by Sushmita Dighe. The snake at the public garden was rescued following the distress call received from resident Tanaji Shewale. In yet another case on the same day, the volunteer Akash Panadaya rescued 7 feet long Indian Rock Python at 01:00 pm from a chawl behind Hanuman Mandir Daulat Nagar in Borivli East area following the call received from Harish Khankar.
June 29, Tuesday: Based on the call received at 02.35 am from Nimesh Mishra, a 5.5 feet long Indian Rock Python was rescued from the ground at Kora Kendra at Borivli West by Sunil Gupta. In another case on the same day, a seven feet long Indian Rock Python was rescued from Sanjay Nagar near Hindu Shamshan Bhumi in Borivali East area by Akash Pandaya, following the distress call received at 05:15 pm from Deepak Gharat.
Veterinarian Dr. Manish Pingle said, “As a veterinarian, I feel very proud to serve my life for the welfare of our voiceless reptiles, who cannot speak for themselves. I feel their pain.” Activist Nisha Kunju said, “I’d like to salute the doctors who are doing their work tirelessly and fearlessly and are protecting humans and animals alike in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
As per the experts, the areas like Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, Powai among others share their boundaries with forests and thus instances of encounters with them are more frequent. Snakes are not restricted to the forests, since in many parts of the city, especially in the suburbs, development has taken place where once forests stood. Due to easy food and shelter, snakes are now found in various parts of the city. Many residential societies are close to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali and the instances of the snakes straying in city limits are quite frequent in the last few years.
