SHASHWAT GUPTA RAY
A humble tailor by profes sion, Pradip Gawandalkar of Valpoi got into snake rescue by chance in 2014 and has since rescued over 10,000 snakes, including 89 king cobras, more than 200 Russell’s vi pers and 1,000 cobras, apart from numerous non-venomous species. Originally from Goa, his family moved to Dandeli in Karnataka be fore he eventually returned to settle in Valpoi. While his primary liveli hood comes from a successful tai loring business, his true passion lies in wildlife rescue. “My journey began after attend ing a workshop conducted by prom inent snake catcher and Animal Res cue Squad member Amrut Singh.
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From there, I transitioned from be ing a concerned observer to a dedi cated volunteer,” Gawandalkar said. His expertise was truly tested in 2014 during his first king cobra res cue. Despite the lack of government insurance or financial support for rescuers, and even after surviving a life-threatening cobra bite that left him hospitalised for two days, he continues this dangerous work. No tably, he refuses any payment for his services, driven by a sense of duty and commitment to public safety. “Earlier, snakes used to be killed whenever they entered human set tlements. But now people call us to rescue them,” he said. “For the sake of saving these snakes, I continue rescuing and releasing them into the wild, even though there is no government incentive or support for us,” he added. He also offered insights into why king cobras are in creasingly entering human settlements. According to him, cashew plantations attract rodents, which in turn draw snakes, including king cobras.
Furthermore, the scarcity of perennial water sources in forests during summer forces these reptiles to venture into residential areas. Speaking about the art of snake rescue, he said it is cru cial to focus on the snake’s head movements while han dling highly venomous species such as the king cobra. “One must maintain a calm and calculated state of focus. These snakes are intelligent and alert, and even a moment of distraction, panic or complacency can provoke a poten tially fatal strike,” he said. Beyond his work with wildlife, Gawandalkar is a re spected figure in the community. “He is a humble individual who remains focused on his family and his service rather than seeking public ity,” senior environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said of Gawandalkar.
