Heartwarming moment! Snake stranded in fire rescued
In a heartwarming moment, some concerned citizens came to the rescue of an Indian Rat Snake which was caught stranded in the aftermath of a fire in a waste collection unit in Noida, Sector- 63.
The snake is currently under the treatment of veterinary experts at Wildlife SOS.
Earlier this week, a waste collection unit caught fire in Sector 63, Noida and a 5-foot-long Indian rat snake was caught in the aftermath of the incident, and sustained minor burns on its mouth and body. On spotting the injured snake, a concerned local immediately contacted Wildlife SOS and its Rapid Response Unit reached the location immediately and safely extricated the injured snake.
Veterinary experts at the NGO are currently attending to the snake’s injuries. The snake has been given topical medication with the help of ointment and it will remain under medical observation until it is declared fit to be released into the wild.
Anil Chaudhary, the rescue caller, said: “When I reached the spot, the fire was already extinguished. That is when I spotted the snake lying there with minor burns near its mouth, and decided to call Wildlife SOS. I am really thankful to the work Wildlife SOS is doing.”
Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO, Wildlife SOS said: “A large part of this rescue operation was possible because concerned citizens took the onus upon themselves. This incident is reassuring and a good sign of the change we are trying to bring through our work.”
Wasim Akram, Deputy Director – Special Projects, Wildlife SOS said: “The citizens of Delhi NCR are becoming more aware and compassionate about reptiles and urban wildlife. The initial reaction to spotting a snake is usually that of fear. Which is why it is met with a lot of hostility and even killed sometimes. But in this case, we are happy to see such prompt action from the locals and their efforts to understand these reptiles, rather than fearing them.”
The Indian Rat snake, also known as the Oriental Rat snake, plays a very interesting role in the food chain. As the name suggests, it primarily feeds on rats and acts as nature’s very own pest control. Every month, Wildlife SOS carries out numerous rescues of wild animals from urban areas.
