Morang, May 21: For the past nine years, 29-year-old Ramesh Bhandari of Urlabari-4, Morang, has dedicated himself to rescuing snakes, turning a dangerous voluntary effort into a mission of wildlife conservation and public awareness.
Bhandari developed an interest in snake rescue at the age of 20 after meeting his neighbour Prem Bista, a forest security guard skilled in handling snakes. Inspired by Bista’s ability to catch even venomous snakes without special equipment, Bhandari gradually learned rescue techniques himself.
He initially began with non-venomous snakes and was bitten several times during his early attempts. Over time, he gained experience in handling venomous species and understanding snake behaviour.
So far, Bhandari has rescued more than 1,300 snakes from homes, kitchens, fields and even bedrooms. He recalls rescuing highly venomous kraits from people’s beds and says such operations require extreme caution.
According to him, snakes usually attack only when threatened. He advises people not to throw stones, beat or burn snakes, stressing that they play an important ecological role by controlling rats and pests in agricultural fields.
To reduce fear and misinformation, Bhandari now conducts awareness programmes at schools, farmers’ groups and local organisations at his own expense. He believes protecting natural habitats is the best way to minimise human-snake conflict.
Although snake rescue provides no stable income, Bhandari says he responds immediately whenever he receives a call for help, especially during the monsoon season.
“Even if I do not earn money from it, I have earned recognition,” he said. “I consider that my greatest wealth.” #Nepal #snake
