It started like any other call. A fellow resident/rescuer, Ganesh from GoodEarth Orchard reported a large Russell’s viper in someone’s backyard. For most people, that sentence triggers panic. For Chayant and me, it triggers adrenaline.

We’re both suckers for large vipers. The weight, the hiss, the power they hold in those coiled muscles, it’s impossible not to feel respect. So we grabbed our kits and headed out.

When we reached, the residents said they’d lost sight of the snake. That’s the sentence no rescuer likes to hear. We scanned every corner until I spotted a thick, earthy pattern beneath a pile of tiles. There it was: an adult Russell’s viper, perfectly camouflaged.

As I was explaining the plan to bag it, the impossible happened. The viper was suddenly halfway up the wall, gliding toward a tree branch. I froze. Russell’s vipers aren’t exactly known for speed-climbing. Something felt off.

Still, we coordinated and safely bagged the snake. But my mind kept nagging: that climb didn’t make sense.

So we went back to the pile of tiles to investigate further. And there it was, another adult Russell’s viper, curled and calm, exactly where the first one had been.

Two large vipers, side by side. A pair, perhaps.
Chayant handled the second while I secured the first. What was supposed to be a single rescue turned into a double rescue – an hour of focus, sweat, and constant recalibration.

This was more than just a rescue. It was a test of instinct, trust, and patience. Every move was choreographed, one holding the flashlight steady while the other managed the tongs, communicating with minimal words, reading each other’s cues. With support from the residents and Ganesh, we made it look easy. 

And it’s worth remembering: this happened in someone’s backyard. The fact that the residents called instead of panicking. Coexistence doesn’t just happen through awareness sessions or posters. It happens in moments like these.

As we drove back, tired, drenched, but still buzzing, we realised how surreal it was. Two adult Russell’s vipers, a coordinated rescue, and perhaps, a brief window into their world before we returned them to theirs.

You can watch the entire rescue unfold here. I have edited it to be under 12 minutes. The whole effort lasted close to an hour.