Green Minute News:
Incidents of reptile rescues are rising across India due to various reasons. They range from habitat loss, urban development, climatic changes like heat waves to temperature fluctuations to seasonal monsoons. Snakes, monitor lizards, chameleons and crocodiles have been displaced from their natural habitat and are forced to seek food and shelter in urban residences, schools, parks, and gardens.
Even as Reptile Awareness Day was observed on October 21, Wildlife SOS highlighted a surge in reptile rescue operations across India, underscoring the organization’s nationwide rescue infrastructure and rapid-response capability. From snow-belt valleys in Jammu & Kashmir to the bustling urban fabric of Delhi, and through regional hubs in Agra and Vadodara, Wildlife SOS’s four centres are standing ready to respond.
The four regional centres of Kashmir, Delhi, Agra and Vadodara have only one mission – protecting India’s reptiles through rapid action and community engagement. Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-Founder & CEO, Wildlife SOS, said,“ Reptiles often live quietly in the background, yet their welfare and rescue demand a high degree of readiness and compassion. As our rapid-response network grows stronger across India, we are committed to meeting every call with promptness & expertise.”
As temperatures dip in Jammu & Kashmir, reptiles begin preparing for brumation (a state of dormancy to preserve energy during winter months). Yet, sightings continue to trigger distress calls on the J&K helpline. The Kashmir centre has successfully rescued and released over 36 reptiles in the past two months, including 13 Indian rat snakes, 3 Himalayan trinket snakes, 2 vipers, and 1 Ladakh cliff racer, however, each ensured a prompt and humane release. Aaliya Mir, Head of the J&K programme said,“ In Jammu & Kashmir, reptiles enter a critical phase of brumation as the season changes, and we must be ready. Over the past months, the team’s swift action has made all the difference.”
In Delhi’s bustling urban landscape, reptile encounters are on the rise. The team recently rescued a checkered keelback water snake from a DMRC depot, a common wolf snake from the DTTDC office, and an Indian rat snake trapped in Vasant Kunj, recording nearly 140 rescues in just two months.
Wasim Akram, Director, Sustainability & Special Projects, Wildlife SOS emphasized,“Whether it’s a venomous snake in the city or a chameleon in a home, our mission is the same: safe rescue and dignified release. Reptile Awareness Day reminds us that every scale and tail matters.”
The Agra rescue unit has handled a wide range of cases, including an Indian cobra at Chhalesar Railway Station, an Indian rock python retrieval and a Bengal monitor lizard from KK Nagar Market. Over the past 60 days, the team has carried out more than 210 successful rescues.
Baiju Raj M.V, Director, Conservation Projects, informed, “Our collaborations with state forest departments and local agencies are what drive performance in reptile rescue. These joint efforts across four centres illustrate how conservation is strengthened through shared responsibility and coordinated response.”
Meanwhile, in Vadodara, the Wildlife SOS–GSPCA team rescued an Indian chameleon from Manjalpur and a baby marsh crocodile from an artificial pond in Tarsali. With nearly 100 rescues recorded in July and August, the unit continues to strengthen efforts toward urban reptile conservation and coexistence.
Every month, the NGO receives hundreds of calls regarding distressed animals trapped in urban areas. They operate 24×7 emergency rescue helplines in four regions. If you come across any wild animals in distress, alert their rescue teams on these numbers as soon as possible.
- Delhi NCR: +91-9871963535,
- Agra & Mathura: +91-9917109666
- Vadodara: +91-9825011117
- Jammu & Kashmir: +91-7006692300, +91-9419778280.
(PHOTO CREDIT: ALL IMAGES FROM WILDLIFE SOS)