Mysureans beware! Snakes on prowl, check shoes, helmet

Shyam Sundar Vattam|NT
Mysuru

There are snakes in shoes, in helmets, in the toilet and even under the bed. This is no exaggeration, it’s happening in the city of Mysuru. Every day on an average, around 20- 25 calls are received by reputed snake rescuers of Mysuru. This is because with the onset of the monsoon, the hatching of eggs is taking place.

Each snake lays 20-25 eggs and the hatching usually happens during this season. So, the snakes look for a cozy place for the hatching and also spots where prey such as mice, lizards and other small insects are found.

Last week, an employee of a private firm was preparing to go to office and picked up his full face helmet only to see a small cobra sitting under it. Similarly, another person took up his sports shoes and saw a small snake curled in it. He threw the shoe away in fear and called a snake rescuer who rushed to the spot and rescued the reptile.

At a house in Kuvempunagar, family members saw something moving on the wooden cot. Immediately they called up reputed snake catcher, Snake Shyam who came to the spot and found a two-year old cobra behind the bed. He held its tail leaving everyone around on tenterhooks and put it in a plastic box before taking it away for release in Chamundi Hill.

In the last 15 days, Snake Shyam has attended to a minimum 15- 20 calls daily about snakes found inside houses. The numbers are likely to go up in the coming days. Snake Shyam, who has a record of rescuing over 35,000 snakes in the last two decades, is a household name in Mysuru. His mobile phone keeps ringing throughout the day with calls coming in not only from Mysuru City but also from the neighbouring villages. He was featured in the National Geographic Channel for his selfless service for snakes. Shyam has released every snake he rescued in the city in Chamundi Hill.

Shyam told News Trail that with rapid urbanization of Mysuru, the natural habitats of snakes has vanished forcing them to look for new places. So, they hide in shoes, helmets, cars, toilets, commodes, empty coconut shells and waste plastic material. Most of the calls come from Kuvempunagar M Block and surrounding areas.

‘’The new residential areas that have come up in the city and the houses which have been constructed after removing herbs and shrubs were the habitats of snakes and so many of them have been deprived of their homes. I am available 24 X 7 and citizens can contact me anytime. Snakes are harmless but tend to attack if they sense a threat to their lives,” he added.

Precaution to be adopted by citizens
1) Never leave your footwear outside the house.
2) The full-face helmet must be kept inside the house. Check it before wearing it
3) Don’t keep empty coconut shells and unused plastic waste material outside the house.
4) Check the commode before using it.
5) if your bed is next to the window, have the sliding window covered with iron mesh.
6) if you spot a snake, close the door and call the snake rescuer.