Snake on a Wire: Bronze-Back Tree Snake Rescued From Tarapur Overbridge

In a late-night rescue operation on Monday (June 16), a Bronze-Back Tree Snake was safely retrieved from a utility cable on Tarapur Overbridge near END Colony by the Barak Valley Wildlife Division. The operation was led by renowned snake rescuer Trikal Chakrabarty and wildlife official Shabir Ahmed.

The non-venomous snake had climbed onto a cable suspended above the bridge, prompting concerned locals to contact Chakrabarty, fearing the reptile might move towards live electrical wires and risk electrocution.

Speaking to Barak Bulletin, Chakrabarty said, “I was told the wires were not live, and locals repeatedly reassured me they were just utility cables. Even then, to be cautious, I avoided my regular metal stick and instead modified a bamboo pole to reach out to the snake.”

Chakrabarty, who first confirmed the snake was non-venomous, used the bamboo stick to guide it down gently. “It’s a tree snake and probably mistook the cable for a creeper or branch. Once it started descending, I caught it by the tail and brought it down safely,” he added.

The Bronze-Back Tree Snake is being released into a suitable natural habitat.