A ladder rescue in northeastern Bangladesh ended safely for a rat snake after it spent about three days unable to climb out of a disused well.
Here's what to know
On October 3, a rat snake was removed from a disused well at Sajal Saotal's home in Radhanagar, within South Rampur Tea Garden in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district, after reportedly being stranded there for about three days, according to The Climate Watch.
After it was rescued, the animal was taken to the Sreemangal Forest Department's range office.
Eyewitness Nipu Kahar said the animal was about 9 feet below ground in the well. People in Radhanagar initially tried to free it themselves, but they were not able to get it out.
With the local attempts unsuccessful, resident Jibon Chasha reached out to the Bangladesh Wildlife Service Foundation. Swapan Deb Sajal, director of the Bangladesh Wildlife Service Foundation, then arrived at the location alongside environmental activist Rajdeep Deb Dip.
The team confirmed the snake was a rat snake before beginning the extraction. They put a ladder down into the well, had one rescuer climb in, and brought the snake out unharmed after about 30 minutes.
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What can be done?
The Bangladesh Wildlife Service Foundation said that if people come across wildlife that is trapped, injured, or sick, they should contact the nearest Forest Department office or the foundation rather than kill the animal or put themselves in danger by trying to rescue it on their own.
Abandoned wells and similar structures can become hidden traps for wildlife. Since the danger came from an abandoned piece of human infrastructure rather than a natural hazard, it highlights one of the many cases of how man-made developments can pose unexpectedly dangerous risks to wildlife.
Identifying and securing those hazards could help prevent another animal from spending days stranded at the bottom of a 9-foot shaft.
Where can I learn more?
This isn't the only story of snake encounters and rescues around homes and other human-made spaces.
• At one home in North Carolina, a large rat snake in the pantry may have stopped a mice problem.
• In Dhaka, Bangladesh, common snakes frequently sneak into human settlements as urbanization spreads.
• In Delhi, India, snakes invade local communities more often during the monsoon season.
• Across India, rising temperatures are driving more snakebite incidents and public health fears.
• In Haridwar, India, a family found 27 baby snakes inside a household water tank.
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