TIMES OF INDIA (New Delhi) 28 March 11 This 'Nagaraj' has charmed more than 100 snakes (Viju B & Bharati Dubey)

Mumbai: Rishab Pillai's Facebook profile has unusual friends-snakes, owls and squirrels. The 18-year-old, who is lovingly known as Nagaraj amongst the middle class neighbourhood in Borivli, is at ease with the wildlife species and they in turn see him as his saviour and life -long friends. Over the last year-and-a-half, this amateur snake catcher has rescued over 100 snakes trapped in residential housing complexes, car parks, basements and industrial units.

Rishab gets at least two phone calls every day from frantic callers asking for snakes trapped in the premises of the callers' buildings to be rescued. "Ever since large patches of mangrove forest on the link road have been destroyed, the original habitat of snakes has been disturbed. They are being forced to move into urban settlements," Pillai says. People instinctively want to kill the snakes that enter their housing societies, he adds. "Members of the society join in, carrying big rods and stones like an army ready to fight aliens."

Rishab rues a recent incident where a 10-ft python. In November 2010, Rishab got a call post midnight from the Kandivli police informing him about a 10-ft python on the road. He messaged his parents who were in the US for a short visit. "They were initially apprehensive as it was around 1am and I would have to go to the spot alone. I convinced them and they let me go. But by the time I reached there, a truck had hit the python," he says.

Rishab then administered first aid and took the python to a veterinary surgeon in the morning. "We managed to save his life, but not his eyes."

Rishab learnt how to rescue snakes after he came in contact with an NGO, Spreading Awareness About Reptile and Rehabilitation Program (SARRP). Pillai is the youngest volunteer in SARRP, which trains members in spreading awareness about snakes and their role in preserving ecosystems. Holding a five-foot common vine snake that was rescued on Sunday, he says a majority of the snakes found in the neighbourhood are non-venomous and they are looking out for a decent habitat.

Harish Pandey, member of New Link Road Resident Forum, which has been fighting to save 400 acres of mangroves in Dahisar said more snakes are found in residential complexes these days, thanks to the rampant hacking of mangroves. "Even big crabs are seen crawling out into the housing societies at link road due to massive depletion of mangroves here," Pandey said.
This 'Nagaraj' has charmed more than 100 snakes

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