CURCHOREM: A 12-feet long King Cobra was rescued by Quepem Forest snake rescuer Rocky D’Costa at Talsai-Colamb, Rivona, on Saturday.
According to D’Costa, the wife of Prakash Gavoskar saw the cobra on the roof of her bedroom when she entered inside after hearing some sound. “She immediately ran out along with her minor children and informed the neighbours and called her husband who in turn informed the forest officials at Quepem.”
Rescuer D’Costa reached the site he rescued the reptile from under the bed and later released it at Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary.
The rescued team consisting of RFO Arun Talwadker, DRO Davidas Velip, Uday Sanvordekar, Rayesh Marashr and Rupesh Pagi were present at the site.
Locals at the site feel that rescue team came without proper rescue/protection kit and thus it becomes difficult and risky for them to conduct the rescue operation.
Admitting that they do not have any protection or rescue kit, RFO Talwadker said that his department is facing shortage of staff in the lower rank and the rescuer is hired on daily wages. “Actually the rescue activities are controlled by Wild Life Sanctuaries but our team doing the work to give immediate relief to public who reside far away from these sanctuaries,” he said.
When the matter was brought to the notice of ruling party MLA from Curchorem constituency Nilesh Cabral that forest department, Quepem does not have protection/rescue kit to rescue reptiles nor permanent rescuer, he assured to recommend to forest minister to provide them kit immediately and also to regularise the services of D’Costa and also to appoint more rescuers on permanent basis.
