On 3 May 2026, the HEAL team received a call from a home owner in Cooch Behar regarding a snake being repeatedly seen near their house. After searching the premises carefully, our team identified the snake as a spectacled cobra hiding deep inside a hole connected to the drainage system. HEAL assistant secretary @ardhendu.banik and two other members, began carefully drilling through the area using a hammer drill. Eventually, they found the hole extended beneath the marble flooring of the balcony into the house.
After nearly 4–5 hours of intensive rescue efforts stretching into dusk, much of the marble flooring had to be broken before the snake could finally be located and rescued safely.
Despite the damage caused to the flooring during the operation, the homeowners fully cooperated with the team and allowed the marble tiles to be broken so the snake could be rescued instead of being harmed. Their patience and understanding played a crucial role in ensuring both the family and the cobra remained unharmed.
The rescued female was found to be carrying eggs and would likely have laid them within the next few days. Gravid snakes often search for warm, sheltered and undisturbed spaces to rest and nest, which is likely what brought it into the house and prompted it to seek refuge in such an inaccessible spot.
Thankfully, the cobra was rescued without injuries, checked carefully, and later released into a suitable habitat after informing the forest department. The family was also spoken to about snake awareness and precautions.
Spectacled cobras play an important role in the ecosystem by helping control rodent populations and maintaining ecological balance. Even these feared predators are simply trying to survive, protect themselves, and in this case, find a safe place for the next generation.