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India.com
5 days ago
- General
- India.com
Why Are So Many Snakes Slithering Into Delhi This Monsoon?
New Delhi: Snakes are showing up more often across Delhi this monsoon in backyards, store rooms stairwells and even under parked cars. Wildlife helplines are reporting an unprecedented rise in such calls. At first glance, it feels like an unusual coincidence. But this is not so. This is what happens when concrete replaces forest and when the rain arrives. As the city expands and green cover shrinks, these reptiles are finding new spaces to hide and hunt, often closer to people than ever before. On July 28, a snake appeared on a road divider at bustling Chandni Chowk. Just days later, one slithered out from a Noida high-rise. A three-foot royal snake was found hiding behind a cot in a leafy South Delhi home. These sightings are becoming frequent, and so are the emergency calls. Monsoon months bring the highest number of snake rescues in the city. Wildlife SOS, a Delhi-based conservation group, receives dozens of alerts each week. From plush government bungalows to cramped resettlement colonies, the calls come from everywhere. They often find snakes hiding in dark corners, seeking shelter from waterlogged burrows. Government data backs the trend. Delhi's forest department reports 157 snake rescues between May and July this year. Most of these snakes were non-venomous. The Wildlife SOS estimates it relocates more than 100 snakes per month during the rainy season. And these are only the reported cases. Some groups are more at risk than others. Sanitation workers and people in informal settlements often face the most direct encounters. Most snakes in India are harmless. Of the 310 species, only 66 are venomous or semi-venomous. But four, the 'Big Four', are responsible for most fatal bites. They are Common Krait, Indian Cobra, Russell's Viper and Saw-Scaled Viper. So why are snakes coming out more often? Professor Gaurav Barhadiya of Ramanujan College has been studying the pattern for years. He points to monsoon triggers such as lush growth, breeding season and a rise in small prey like rats and squirrels. Rain draws them out. Since their food is out, so they are out too. Climate change, he says, is another factor. People think snake numbers are growing, but that is not true. The reptiles are more visible now because their habitat is shrinking, and the earth's temperature is rising. In the summer, snakes seek cooler places like under AC vents, near refrigerators and inside bathrooms. So how do we keep them away? We cannot rebuild forests, but we can preserve what we have. Make them reptile-friendly and let the natural system absorb them again.
Indian Express
21-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
‘It was in kitchen, on third floor…': Snake sightings surge in Delhi as monsoon pushes them out of natural habitat
'It was in the kitchen… on the third floor,' said East of Kailash RWA president Karan Aggarwal as he recalled that he was informed about the presence of a snake on Sunday in a house in the neighbourhood. The three-foot-long Indian rat snake was found inside the kitchen cabinet at a house on the third floor in a residential building, triggering alarm in the area. After the Wildlife SOS emergency helpline was approached, the NGO's rapid response unit arrived and caught the yellowish, slender, and non-venomous reptile with black crossbands, said residents. Even as such sightings may sound rare, incidents like these become common during monsoon in the Capital. With flooded burrows and waterlogged grounds, snakes seek dry refuge and often get pushed out of their natural shelters and end up inside homes, schools, warehouses, and even government buildings, according to experts. 'The monsoon season typically leads to an increase in snake sightings as they seek dry and safe shelters, often leading them into urban areas,' said Suvidha Bhatnagar, Director of Communications at Wildlife SOS. In the last few weeks, Wildlife SOS says it has caught multiple snakes across Delhi-NCR. A four-foot-long spectacled cobra was removed from a Jawaharlal Nehru University canteen, where it was found coiled close to a gas cylinder. In the first week of July, a similar incident took place at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence — a rat snake was found and later removed. In Greater Noida, a cobra had to be removed from inside an almirah, while in Ghaziabad, a seven-foot-long rat snake was rescued from a cricket practice net in Raj Nagar Extension. In Paschim Vihar, Burari, and Chhatarpur too, snakes have been spotted and removed by the teams of Wildlife SOS. All these incidents were reported in June. This sharp increase in snake sightings and rescues is not limited to Delhi. In Agra, over 100 snake rescue calls were received between June and mid-July this year, according to the NGO. The reptiles thus removed included 34 Indian rat snakes, 23 spectacled cobras, and 21 common wolf snakes. Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said, 'Instead of reacting out of fear, people are now seeking safe and humane solutions. This change is not just encouraging, it is essential for the survival of these ecologically critical reptiles.' Similar trends have been observed in the rest of the country, according to the NGO. For example, in Kashmir, the Wildlife SOS team recently caught multiple snakes from residential areas of Pampore and Budgam. In one case, a snake was found inside the bonnet of a car. In another, two snakes were taken out from the same chicken coop. In July 2024, the NGO's rapid response team in Delhi handled at least 48 reptile rescues and in July 2023, they reported 56 reptile rescues, predominantly snakes, following heavy rain. The Delhi Forest and Wildlife department also has an active helpline number for snake rescues, with multiple rapid response teams deployed based on the forest divisions, said a senior forest department official. In Delhi, the NGO has observed that the monsoon season coincides with the hatching period of several native snake species. 'During past monsoon seasons, snakes such as the spectacled cobra, common krait, Indian rock python, Indian rat snake, and black-headed royal snake have frequently been rescued from homes and commercial areas in Delhi-NCR,' it said in an advisory issued on June 23. Baiju Raj M V, Director of Conservation Projects at Wildlife SOS, and a herpetologist, said, 'The increase in rescue calls shows that awareness campaigns and community outreach are working, but there's still a long way to go.' Adding to that, Aggarwal says, 'Residents do not know what to do when they see a snake… and whom to contact. There is a serious lack of awareness of such procedures. There were many incidents last year too. We are most worried for our children since they are more vulnerable to these in the park.' The NGO said it actively educated residents and debunks myths. Indian rat snakes, for instance, are non-venomous and play a vital role in controlling rodent populations, yet they are often mistaken for venomous species and killed out of fear. As per the Wildlife SOS protocol, the reptile is medically examined and if deemed healthy, released into a suitable wild habitat away from human settlements. 'When people respond calmly and contact trained professionals, it results in a win for both safety and conservation,' said Satyanarayan. To help prevent such encounters, the NGO 'recommends keeping surroundings clean and rodent-free, sealing drains and cracks, storing waste off the ground, and avoiding barefoot walks in grassy or waterlogged areas.'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Watch: Children in UP parade giant 15-foot Indian rock python bare-handed for 3 kilometers; video goes viral
Source: Instagram In a surprising and concerning incident, a group of children was seen handling a massive wild python in a rural village, sparking widespread attention. The footage shows the children carrying the enormous snake bare-handed through the streets, attracting a large crowd of onlookers. Despite the clear risks involved, there was no immediate intervention from local authorities or wildlife officials. This event has raised important questions about public awareness, wildlife protection, and community safety. It highlights the urgent need for better education and enforcement of laws to protect both people and endangered animals in such regions. 15-foot Indian python carried by children amid no official response A viral video from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, shows children parading a massive 15-foot Indian rock python through their village. The footage captures the kids handling the enormous snake bare-handed, lifting it by its head, midsection, and tail as they walk through the streets. This unusual sight attracted a large crowd, with many onlookers recording and taking selfies with the python. UP reports reveal that during the entire incident, local authorities and the forest department did not intervene or take any action. Despite the unusual and risky situation, none of the onlookers alerted officials or wildlife experts. After parading the giant python through the village, the children released it into a nearby forest instead of handing it over to professionals. The viral video clearly shows the children gripping the massive snake by its head, middle, and tail, walking nearly 3 kilometers through the streets. Social media reactions to viral video of children carrying giant Indian python The video elicited mixed reactions across social media platforms. Some users found the spectacle amusing and entertaining, while many others condemned the actions, criticizing both the children and the apparent lack of wildlife protection enforcement. Comments ranged from disbelief at the children handling such a large and potentially dangerous animal without precautions, to harsh criticism of the authorities' failure to respond. One user expressed concern about the treatment of this endangered species, questioning the absence of wildlife officials during the incident. Others condemned the community's behavior as 'barbaric,' comparing it unfavorably to the civic sense in other countries and calling for stricter measures to prevent such negligence. About the Indian rock python The Indian rock python is among the largest and longest snakes native to India. According to Wildlife SOS, this reptile can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh as much as 90 kilograms. It is classified as a Schedule I species under India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, highlighting its protected status due to vulnerability and ecological importance. Under Section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act, any hunting, capturing, or disturbing of Schedule I species like the Indian rock python is strictly forbidden. Violations carry severe penalties including imprisonment for three to seven years and a minimum fine of Rs 25,000. This legislation is designed to safeguard endangered wildlife and discourage harmful interactions. Also Read | Vasuki Indicus vs Titanoboa: Who was the largest snake in fossil history
Indian Express
08-07-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Watch: Children carry 15-foot Indian rock python bare-handed, parade it for 3 km in UP village
A video of a group of children parading a 15-foot Indian rock python in Uttar Pradesh's Bulandshahr has caught the Internet's attention. According to a report in NDTV, onlookers did not inform the local authorities or the forest department after the incident unfolded, and the children released the giant python into a nearby forest. The now-viral clip shows a group of children lifting the reptile bare-handed from the head, mid, and tail, and parading it through the village. Many of them were seen recording the incident and taking selfies with the snake. Reports also stated that they walked with the python for nearly 3 km, attracting a massive crowd in the village. Watch the video here: A 15-foot-long giant python was spotted in Bulandshahr UP. Villagers and children captured the python with their hands. — Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) July 7, 2025 Soon after the video came to light, numerous social media users found the incident amusing, while others slammed the local authorities. A user wrote, 'This is insane.. children with bare hands.' Another user commented, 'This is horrible treatment for that endangered species of wild animal. I wonder where are the wildlife authorities?' 'Barbaric behavior. Somalia… Tanzania have better civic sense than bimarus.. One of the main reason Maharashtra must ban bimaru infilteration because of this barbarian behavior,' a third user reacted. 'Python got the scare of its life lmao,' a fourth user chimed in. According to Wildlife SOS, a website dedicated to wildlife, the Indian rock python is one of the longest and largest snakes found in the country. The reptile can grow up to 20 feet in length and weigh up to 90 kg, and is a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. As per Section 9 of the Act, hunting, capturing, or even disturbing such protected wildlife is strictly prohibited and punishable with imprisonment for a term of three to seven years, along with a minimum fine of Rs 25,000.
Deccan Herald
06-07-2025
- Science
- Deccan Herald
Over 160 bird species, 21 sightings, documented in bird census
The greater flamingo with its long, coat hanger neck and pink-white plumage, and the Indian pitta, known for its distinctive calls, were among the 21 first-time sightings recorded across the national capital this summer. More than 160 bird species including endangered and migratory species have been recorded across Delhi as part of the Delhi Bird Atlas. The summer phase of the atlas -- a pioneering citizen science initiative supported by Wildlife SOS and the Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department -- reported 21 first-time sightings and saw over 600 checklists uploaded to the eBird platform, surpassing the winter documentation efforts, according to a statement. Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), Black Bittern (Ixobrychus flavicollis, Bonelli's Eagle (Aquila fasciata) and Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) are among the first-time sightings. The project, which divides Delhi into 145 observation zones, is aimed at building a long-term understanding of avian distribution patterns across seasons, officials said. Alongside this documentation drive, Wildlife SOS has intensified its rescue efforts during the scorching summer, saving nearly 500 birds till May 2025. These included raptors and migratory species impacted by extreme heat, electrocution, collisions, and habitat stress. Shyam Sunder Kandpal, Chief Wildlife Warden, said the Delhi Bird Atlas is not just a scientific initiative but a "community-powered effort" to reconnect people with nature and create a data-backed conservation strategy for the capital. The initiative also underscores the growing role of citizens in spotting and reporting injured or distressed birds, often triggering rescue operations. "With Delhi reeling under erratic climate patterns and rising pollution, initiatives like the Bird Atlas become all the more urgent," said Wasim Akram, Director of Special Projects at Wildlife SOS.
