Injured Rat Snake finds a charmer in NGO

An Irla resident, who was working at a construction site near LBS Marg at Bhandup, found a badly wounded 10-foot-long Rat Snake on Monday.

Jayesh Sedani, 41, an animal lover who works with a construction company, the Neptune group, called Karuna, a Mulund-based NGO that works for animal welfare.

“I have been working at this site for the past seven months, and I have spotted at least 20 snakes,” said Sedani.

Ganesh Kadam, a Karuna volunteer, who came to the site to rescue the injured animal, said the reptile was “an exceptionally large Dhaman snake (Rat Snake), a non-poisonous variety.”

Dharmendra Sanghvi, Karuna’s animal welfare officer, said the NGO had rescued at least 20 snakes since January. “These include Russel Vipers, Common Kraits, Sand Boas, Banded Kukris and Checkered Keelbacks,” he said. “Snakes are not uncommon in this area, as it borders a hilly jungle. The area is fast developing, as construction sites are cropping up everywhere.”

The Dhaman snake’s condition is critical. Sanghvi said it has a 50-50 chance of survival. 

“The snake’s scale was broken, and it had three to four severe wounds,” said Dr Shashikant Muluk, Karuna’s veterinarian, who administered an oral saline to the snake.