Puri: A venomous Spectacled Cobra that was stuck in molten tar in a godown in the district got a new lease of life due to the efforts of snake activists and veterinarians.
Basant Kumar Behera of Delanga in Puri district spotted the deadly snake trapped in the coal tar in his godown on Wednesday. Though the drum was empty, the tar left in it had melted and spilled out to the floor due to the heat. When the cobra was passing by, it got stuck in the molten tar.
Entire head and 80% of the cobra’s body was stuck in the tar. Fortunately, it could breath as the mouth and nose were not stuck in the tar.
On being informed by Basant, Susant Kumar Behera, a volunteer of Snake Helpline, reached the spot, but could not know how to rescue the cobra. He called Subhendu Mallik, general secretary of Snake Helpline who advised him to lift the snake from the place along with the tar.
Spectacled Cobra Stuck In Molten Tar Rescued In Odisha’s Puri – YouTube
As per the advice of Mallik, Susant dug out the tar from the floor and lifted the snake out of it. He wrapped the snake’s body with newspaper and took it to the Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology in the College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, OUAT.
Dr Indramani Nath, professor & HoD of Department of Veterinary Surgery and his team carefully removed the tar from the cobra’s body with edible oil. It took them nearly 90 minutes to wash out the tar. Susant and another Snake Helpline member Ashis Behera assisted them.
Dr Indramani Nath said, “It was a challenging case. Though we have successful removed the coal tar form the body, the snake cannot be released overnight. We have advised to keep it 4-5 days under observation and then it can be released in forest.”
Malik said, “Edible oil was used because it has no negative impact on the snake’s body. Kerosene or terpentine can be detrimental to the snake due to toxic content.”
