Cobra found in Uddhav Thackeray’s house, rescued

Mumbai (IANS). A highly venomous and angry cobra was rescued from Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s Bandra East bungalow ‘Matoshree’, an official said. After this the family heaved a sigh of relief. An official gave this information on Monday.

On Sunday afternoon, Atul Kamble, a wildlife animal protection and rescue association (WLAPRA) activist and snake-friend living nearby, got a call that a snake was roaming around in a compound.

Speaking to IANS about his rescue operation, 34-year-old Kamble said, “I immediately reached there and checked the premises. Eventually I found him. He was very scared and trembling behind a water tank in the bungalow premises.

With his 15 years of experience and having helped save over 9,000 snakes and other reptiles in the city, Kamble caught the 4-feet long cobra and kept it in an open space.

“He was surrounded by a big and excited crowd, he seemed to be in an aggressive mood, so I had to pacify him,” Kamble explained with a smile. ‘ Opened his hood in the situation.

The whole operation lasted for 15-20 minutes, when Kamble put the cobra in his bag, leaving the Thackeray family and others in awe.

They then informed Roshan Shinde, Round Officer (Borivali-Bandra), Thane Forest Division, and as per rules, the cobra was released back into its natural habitat.

A relieved and smiling ‘Tiger’ Thackeray personally came to thank and applaud Kamble for his efforts.

Kamble said that due to the ongoing work on the Mumbai Metro lines, many snakes have been displaced, and about 3-4 dozen complaints of snakes entering residential complexes, houses or offices are received daily.

He cautioned that once the work on the Mumbai Metro is over, there could be complaints of not only snakes but also leopards entering underground metro stations.