By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, Feb. 21: Ramesh Bhandari of Urlabari-4, Morang, recently turned 28. He has been rescuing snakes for the past eight years.
At 20, Ramesh developed a passion for snakes while spending time with his neighbour, Prem Bista, a forestry technician.
Bista had the remarkable skill of handling large snakes without any equipment. As Ramesh learned snake rescue techniques from him, he started catching non-venomous snakes. In his first year, he was bitten multiple times while handling them.
Rescuing non-venomous snakes was relatively safe, as its venom is harmless, which gave him confidence. However, his journey did not stop there. While working alongside Bista, Ramesh learned how to rescue venomous snakes, understand their behaviour and study their environmental adaptation.
Over the past eight years, Ramesh has rescued more than 1,200 snakes -- from fields and barns to kitchens and even bedrooms. He recalled rescuing highly venomous krait snakes from people’s beds and stressed the importance of caution and awareness when encountering such reptiles.
“He sometimes feels like snakes recognise rescuers. When a rescuer approaches, they become more alert. People should never throw stones, hit them with sticks, poke them or set them on fire. That only makes them aggressive and defensive. Snakes do not bite unless they feel threatened,” he said.
Snakes play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. They help control rodent populations in farmlands and curb the spread of harmful pests. However, fear of snakes remains prevalent among people.
To address this, Ramesh conducts awareness-generating programmes in schools, farmers’ groups and local institutions, educating people about snakes. He believed that if snake habitats were protected, they would not enter homes. However, due to human activities, snakes themselves are now at risk.
Initially, Ramesh’s family discouraged him from pursuing this risky work. But he remained undeterred and continued his rescue efforts. During the monsoon, he spends almost every day rescuing snakes. Despite being a volunteer effort with no financial gains, he responds to calls at any hour.
“I may not make money from this, but I have earned recognition and this is my wealth,” he said.