Srinagar: Wildlife SOS team rescued a 5ft long black headed king snake that was stuck in a tourist minibus in Khayam Chowk, Srinagar.
The distressed snake is currently under observation and will be released into the wild once found fit.
The driver of a mini tourist bus was taken aback by the sight of a snake emerging from the steering wheel. In what was an unthinkable situation, the reptile’s lower body was stuck in the engine under the hood while its head protruded from the steering wheel.
Fearing for his safety and that of the snake, he immediately contacted the Wildlife SOS Rapid Response Unit on its 24-hour emergency helpline.
The Wildlife SOS team rushed with the necessary rescue gear and equipment and reached the scene in no time. Further examination confirmed it to be a juvenile black-capped kingsnake, as it had pale brown markings and lacked the distinct irregular black markings that adult kingsnakes have on the head and neck. body.
During an operation lasting almost 2 hours, which required a great deal of patience and presence of mind, the team extracted the distressed snake with the utmost caution, ensuring that it did not suffer any harm. wound. Given the stressful situation in which it was rescued, the snake was placed in the custody of the NGO until it was fit to return to the wild.
“It was a difficult rescue operation, to the point where we were concerned for the snake’s safety. A considerable part of the snake’s body was tightly wedged in the bonnet section while part of its head protruded from the steering wheel. We have had to call in a mechanic to cut the wires and be extremely careful not to hurt the snake. Fortunately, thanks to the tireless efforts of our entire rescue team and the help of the citizens, we were able to save the snake,” said said Aaliya Mir, Program Manager, J&K Wildlife SOS.
Kartick Satyanarayan, CEO of Wildlife SOS, said: “Being stuck in such a difficult situation can be stressful for any animal. The snake’s experience was extremely traumatic in this case and we are ensuring that it receives the care and rest it needs to heal. It is gratifying to see that concerned citizens have also taken responsibility for us and helped our team.
Earlier, the NGO’s Rapid Response Unit rescued a 6-foot-long Indian Ratsnake from the garden in the Pulwama area.
