As the mercury plunges, Delhi residents are migrating toward warm spots – and it’s not just the humans!
A Delhi Metro employee got a shock on Friday when he discovered a four foot long adult spectacled cobra in his motorcycle parked at a Metro rail depot in Shastri Park. Having just finished his shift around noon, he was preparing to return home, when he heard a sudden hissing sound near his bike. Looking down, he found the snake coiled up on the warm engine housing of his TVS Victor.
He immediately called the 24-hour rescue helpline of NGO Wildlife SOS. By the time the NGO’s rescue team reached the spot, a large crowd had already gathered, and some people were trying to douse the hissing, angry cobra with cold water.
"It is extremely cold for reptiles at this time of the year. During the winter chill, cold-blooded animals like cobras try to find refuge in warm spots. It is extremely dangerous to spray a snake with water. However, our team was able to rescue the cobra successfully," said Kartick Satyanarayan of Wildlife SOS.
The snake is currently under observation, and will soon be released into protected surroundings. During the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Wildlife SOS helpline rescued eight cobras in various city venues, saving both the endangered reptiles and any humans who may have come into conflict with them.
For any such emergencies, the NGO’s helpline number is 9871963535.
