Rescuers Called to Remove One Snake—Then Found a Russell’s Viper and 22 Newborns
What started as a request to remove a single snake from a home in Rajasthan, India, ended with wildlife rescuers pulling 23 highly venomous Russell’s vipers from beneath the property.
Chaman Singh Chauhan, divisional president of the Wild Animal Rescue Centre and a snake-rescue world record holder, was dispatched to a home in Dhikli village after a snake was reported inside a tube well chamber, the Hindustan Times reported.
“When we began the rescue, more snakes kept emerging from the chamber,” Chauhan said.
A closer inspection revealed an entire Russell’s viper family: a mother and 22 newborns. The species is known for its potent venom, making the discovery especially sensitive for nearby residents.
The rescue drew dozens of villagers to the scene, according to the outlet.
Working with team member Lakshmilal Gameti, Chauhan secured all 23 snakes and released them into a suitable natural habitat.
Chauhan told the Times the find was particularly unusual because Russell’s vipers give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
He also recalled another major rescue involving 12 cobras removed from a hotel in Udaipur’s Sewashram area.
Wildlife experts caution residents to stay especially alert during monsoon season. A tube well chamber and similar hideouts can offer shade, moisture and shelter—conditions that may attract snakes during wet periods, when they leave burrows and move across land and around homes. That creates safety concerns for families and workers who use wells, storage areas and other enclosed spaces.
Such encounters are not usually a matter of animals invading human areas. In many places, expanding development, altered landscapes and human movement increase the likelihood of contact. The BBC has explained why wild animals attack people, noting that human activity often creates the conditions that lead to conflict.
In this case, the rapid response from trained rescuers was key. Removing and relocating the snakes protected both people and wildlife. Releasing them into their natural habitat lowered the chance of another dangerous encounter and avoided the killing of animals that play a critical role in local ecosystems.
If you are in a similar situation, do not try to handle a snake yourself, especially in a hidden or enclosed area. Carefully checking tube wells, storage containers and similar spaces during monsoon periods can reduce the risk of dangerous encounters.
The incident also points to a broader need for coexistence measures, from public awareness campaigns to professional rescue networks that can respond when wildlife turns up in the wrong place. Prevention, awareness and trained relocation remain some of the best ways to protect both people and snakes, which can turn up in bedrooms, water systems and other sheltered spots around homes.
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