Rescued king cobra released to forest

DHNS

• The reptile was fighting for life after being stuck in a machinery

Gonikoppa, 16 August 2010: Nagara-panchami is just over and on this day people stand in queues to anoint milk and ghee on stone statues of snakes. 

 
Ironically when the real snake is found in the vicinity it is done to death by petrified bunch of people.

In Gonikoppa lives a herpetologist, who rescued an injured king cobra, treated it for over 60 days and released it to the woods. The herpetologist is snake Sathish, the warden of Coorg Public School of Gonikoppa who feels that even if he fails to turn to the holy shrine of snake gods to offer prayers on Panchami, the king cobra that he had rescued must be blessing him wherever it is.

A king cobra was fighting for life after being stuck in a machinery at a Mini Hydel Project at Karike near Bhagamandala. The personnel from the plant quickly informed Sathish about the situation. Following this, Sathish rushed to the spot to rescue the cobra. On reaching the spot, Sathish found that the cobra had entangled itself in the machinery and could not make its way out.

Sensing that the situation was crucial, Sathish headed towards the king cobra, but the reptile which was in acute pain retaliated Sathish by hissing. Sathish took it as a challenge and paved his way to the cobra strategically. He brought the rescued cobra to Gonikoppa and ensured recuperation of the king cobra.

Sathish treated the wounds of the cobra using coconut oil and turmeric. He also visited Puttur and got medicines for the cobra from renowned herpetologist Dr Ravindra Aithal.

Sathish had to risk his life while applying medicines on the wounded cobra as the raged reptile tried to bite Sathish several times during the course of the treatment.

The health condition of the cobra started improving within one month and on the 32nd day, it ate a krait. On the 60th day, Sathish saw that the king cobra was healthy.

Following this, he released the cobra in to Brahmagiri forest and in no time the guest, which came to live with Sathish for 60 days returned to its world, probably with gratefulness to its saviour. This is the third king cobra rescued by Sathish from people.