Pune: With the onset of monsoon, snake rescue volunteers and wildlife organisations across the city have reported a sharp rise in distress calls. Snakes are increasingly entering residential complexes, construction sites, and farmlands in search of dry shelter or in pursuit of prey like rodents and frogs.Rescuers said a record number of snakes were caught in June, much higher than last year.“We caught 82 snakes last month alone. Due to heavy rains followed by dry spells, sightings in residential areas have spiked,” said Ganesh Mate, a local snake rescuer. He said a large number of rescues have occurred around Undri, Kondhwa, and Hadapsar, with the reptiles being released back into reserved forest areas.A significant portion of these rescues involves hatchlings, particularly of highly venomous species like cobras and Russell’s vipers. “Snake babies are often found in groups. There are times we have rescued 10 to 15 at once,” said Balasaheb Tribhuvan, a rescuer operating in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area. Tribhuvan, who receives two to three calls daily, hands these snakes over to the local zoo for safety.The surge has sparked concern among citizens. Siddhi Gaikwad, a resident of Hadapsar, shared her anxiety: “It is scary to let children play on the society lawn. We’ve spotted venomous snakes recently; though we contacted rescuers, the snakes slipped away before they arrived.”Experts attributed the rise not just to the weather, but also to urban expansion. “Ongoing construction activity often drives snakes out of their burrows due to ground vibrations from heavy equipment. We are receiving multiple calls daily from Baner and Pashan areas,” another rescuer said.While venomous snakes grab the headlines, rescuers are also busy relocating non-venomous species like rat snakes and common trinket snakes. Tanishq Daithankar, a rescuer who performed over 100 rescues in June, noted that even rare species like the bamboo pit viper have been spotted this season.Interestingly, some snakes enter the city as “hitchhikers.” Many seek the warmth of car bonnets, which remain heat-insulated long after a drive. Girish Tiwari, a resident of Kharadi, recounted a recent experience: “After returning from Mahabaleshwar, we found a green vine snake coiled under our car bonnet the next morning. It likely climbed in while we were still in the hill station.”Rescuers advise residents to maintain a safe distance if they spot a snake and to keep the reptile in sight from a distance, if possible. They emphasise contacting the forest department or authorised rescue volunteers immediately rather than attempting to handle or kill the animal.
