Watch: Kerala woman officer catches giant Cobra with bare hands; Netizens say women scared by lizards should learn from her
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Rescue completed in six minutes
Online response highlights admiration and safety concerns
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UN official calls for better safety measures
Rescue underscores both skill and risks
A video of Beat Forest Officer G S Roshni rescuing a 15-foot-long king cobra from a stream near Peppara in Kerala is going viral on social media . The incident, which took place on Sunday, marked Roshni's first rescue involving a king cobra in her nearly eight-year-long career with the Kerala Forest Department . She has handled over 800 venomous and non-venomous snakes during her service.Roshni, part of a five-member Rapid Response Team (RRT), responded to calls from locals who spotted the snake near a stream commonly used for bathing in Anchumaruthumoodu, on the forest fringes.According to Roshni, the snake was caught around 12:30 p.m. and was later released into the deep forest. 'It was a mature snake. It was about 14–15 feet long and weighed approximately 20 kilograms,' she told PTI. She added that such sightings are rare in southern Kerala, which made this her first encounter with a king cobra.Television footage showed the officer alone, using a long hooked stick and a cloth bag, securing the snake's tail and eventually coaxing it into the bag after several minutes. At one point in the video, she could be heard saying 'please' to the cobra as it resisted entering the bag. The entire process was completed in six minutes.The rescue video drew widespread attention online, leading to both commendation and criticism. One viewer commented, 'Women who get scared by lizards and cockroaches should learn from her.' Another noted the lack of on-site assistance, saying, 'Big salute ma'am. I don't see anyone standing with her, offering to hold the bag or help her. Everyone is sitting in the gallery and commenting.'Others expressed concern about safety protocols. Some users pointed out 'several mistakes' and advised Roshni to be more cautious, calling her 'inexperienced' in handling such dangerous tasks.Muralee Thummarukudy , Director of the G20 Global Land Initiative at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), also commented on the incident. In a Facebook post, he acknowledged his respect for Roshni, especially after learning it was her first king cobra rescue.However, he noted signs of inexperience, including instances where tools slipped from her hands during the operation. 'Despite that, her confidence does not go away,' he wrote.Thummarukudy also highlighted the absence of personal protective equipment (PPE) among Forest Department personnel when handling venomous snakes. He urged the department to identify minimum PPE requirements, make them part of regular training, and ensure their availability. 'Personal protective equipment is not for those who are less courageous or trained, but for everyone who has knowledge and responsibility,' he said.The incident has reignited discussions about safety standards for wildlife officers in India. While Roshni's composure and effectiveness have drawn admiration, the episode also illustrates the need for institutional support and protective protocols for personnel engaged in high-risk fieldwork.Roshni continues to serve as a member of the Kerala Forest Department's Rapid Response Team, committed to wildlife rescue and conservation across the region.(With inputs from PTI)
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