What began as a call to remove a single snake from a Rajasthan, India, home ended with rescuers finding 23 highly venomous Russell's vipers beneath the property.
Here's what to know
Chaman Singh Chauhan, divisional president of the Wild Animal Rescue Centre and a snake-rescue world record holder, was called to a home in Dhikli village after a snake was reported in a tube well chamber, the Hindustan Times reported.
"When we began the rescue, more snakes kept emerging from the chamber," Chauhan said.
The inspection revealed an entire family of Russell's vipers — which are known for their potent venom — a mother and 22 newborns.
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.
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Chauhan told the Times that the discovery was especially unusual because Russell's vipers give birth to live young rather than laying eggs.
Chauhan also recalled another major rescue involving 12 cobras removed from a hotel in Udaipur's Sewashram area.
More background
Wildlife experts caution residents to stay particularly 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 through land and around homes. That creates safety concerns for families and workers who use wells, storage areas, and other 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 explained why wild animals attack people, noting that human activity often creates the conditions that lead to conflict.
What's being done?
In this case, the rapid response from trained rescuers was key. Removing and relocating the snakes protected both people and the 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're in a similar situation, do not try to handle a snake yourself, especially in a hidden or an enclosed area. Carefully checking tube wells, storage containers, and similar spaces during monsoon periods can reduce the risk of dangerous encounters.
This incident also shows there is a broad 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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