An early morning call to HEAL’s wildlife helpline on 19 May 2026 led our team to Baneswar Ambari in Cooch Behar, West Bengal where a spectacled cobra had become trapped in a China Duari net.

Our team member Anirban proceeded carefully to rescue the snake from the net and later released it unharmed in a nearby forest area.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.

China Duari nets are illegal fishing gear designed to trap anything that enters them. While commonly used for fishing, their extremely fine mesh and funnel-like structure also ensnare non-target wildlife, including snakes, turtles, waterbirds, monitor lizards and countless juvenile fish. Such bycatch not only causes suffering and mortality but also disrupts the ecological balance of wetlands.

For over a year, HEAL has been documenting the spread of these nets across Bengal’s wetlands and highlighting their impact on native fish populations, wetland biodiversity and the livelihoods of traditional fisherfolk. Our teams have repeatedly rescued snakes and turtles from these nets while also recording instances of wildlife mortality.

We are encouraged that the West Bengal Fisheries Department has issued directions to districts to take action against the use and spread of China Duari nets, recognising the serious threat they pose to aquatic ecosystems and wetland wildlife.

This rescued cobra was fortunate. Many others are not till such practices continue.