Keelbacks – The Nasty Ones

A bite from a checkered Keelback can be a nasty wound that simply doesn’t seem to be at a loss of blood! Though completely non-venomous, checkered Keelbacks are feared by rescuers for their “giving-a-fight” attitude and ofcourse the painful jabs!

Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator)

Cobra – the docile devil

Cobras have been the most revered reptiles in India. Perhaps the only reptiles to have a high spiritual significance in our culture, cobras are both respected and feared throughout the country. This has also been the reason that cobras aren't easily attacked by spectators.

The Indian sub-continent hosts four types of cobra species – the Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja), Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia), Andaman Cobra (Naja sagittifera) and Central Asian Cobra (Naja oxiana). However, it is Spectacled and Monocled cobras that occur vastly throughout the country. Both these cobra species share the same habitat but are quite different in their behavior.

Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia)

Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja)

For rescuers, it is important to have enough knowledge of cobra behavior before handling/rescuing one. Rescue tactics would largely depend upon the behavior of the particular specimen, the condition of the cobra and the length/age of the species.

Rat Snakes – The Impatient Ones

If you are a rescuer in India, Rat Snakes (Ptyas mucosa, Linnaeus, 1758) will be the most common reptiles you would be called to handle. Though completely non-venomous, rat snakes can be quite difficult, especially if you are a new to the job. In fact after having worked with reptiles for more than 5 years now, I still try to avoid a ‘rat’ call! Ask any senior rescuer and I believe that the feedback would be quite the same :)

Apart from being too intolerable, rat snakes can give a nasty bite. Handling them requires more than just securing their tail end. They are also the most difficult of snakes to be guided into baggers. So what can you do to save yourself the bite and ensuring that the snake is unharmed?