SSSnake! Call in the friendly charmers of Bangalore

It’s late in the evening and you snuggle in your favourite chair with a creepy horror mystery. Once or twice you distractedly cast a glance towards the black mass near the flower pot. And then suddenly as the blurred contour takes shape, you feel a tingling sensation running down your spine; you can barely manage to stifle a scream even as the shining cobra slithers by.

The first impulse in such a situation would be to thump the poor creature to death. Ignorance about these sinuous beauties breeds intense fear and pushes us to take extreme steps. But thankfully, there is a more humane way to put your fears to rest, just call in the snake charmers who would deftly ensnare these hapless reptiles and release them to the safety of the wild.

Meet Mr Saleem Hameed, a wildlife rehabilitator who works with Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC), a sister concern of CUPA. Besides rescuing all kinds of animals and birds, Saleem rehabilitates large numbers of snakes as well. Also an industrial photographer, Saleem has been bitten by cobras a couple of times but does not fight shy when it comes to saving them. At times, he will walk that extra mile to protect these misunderstood creatures.

Another snake charmer who does this more as a vocation is Mohammed Anees from Coles Road. His fascination for snakes started at a very early age. Says Anees, “I love snakes. Somehow I feel it my duty to protect these lovely creatures. By the grace of Allah I have never been bitten … I sincerely wish someone would come forward with help.”

So the next time you encounter any of these slithering beauties, don’t forget to call the friendly charmers!