Impressive couple with Nat Geo

INot less than a magic show.

Benhail Antao safely removed the third snake from behind an Air Conditioner in a Goan home and gave it to his wife, Louise Remedios. It was like an endless string of handkerchiefs from a magician’s pocket.

At one point, Louise was holding seven snakes in her hand as she, Benhail, and family members watched in horror as the mystery unfolded.

Before long, the couple realized the mystery was the snake’s mating season. A female snake was trapped behind the machine, and six other snakes ran after smelling it. But, unfortunately, in the process, they all got stuck.

“The rescue call was only for one snake because even the family didn’t know there were so many snakes. In such a very dangerous situation, we had to maintain a calm silence and focus on handling them without scaring the snakes. The situation can quickly turn dangerous once the snakes panic. They can take turns,” Louise told The Better India.

This incident happened recently, and they took care of the whole operation, it can be said that they have been working on this for a long time.

“It’s been 20 years since I did it,” Benhail said India is better.

“I joined the rescue mission ten years ago,” added Lousie.

The husband and wife duo from Panjim are wedding planners by profession and animal rescuers with passion. They won the snake rescue missions along with bats, crocodiles, leopards etc

As the Goa Forest Service’s honorary wildlife officer, Benhail is frequently called up by police and the forest department for statewide rescue missions.

With an average of 3-8 rescue calls a day, the couple is busy between having a lavish wedding and re-releasing the animals in their natural habitat.

Benhail was about nine years old when he first encountered a snake. Born and raised in the Goa village of Moira, spotted snakes are quite common. He has witnessed how people handle or kill snakes because they are “supposedly dangerous.”

“I’ve only heard of snake bites, but I’ve never seen one do that. So, with my bare hands, I pinned the snake down, caught it, and moved it to a safer place. Of course, in the early years, the way I rescued wasn’t the safest for the snake and me, but there was no internet or books to guide me back then. I was 18 when I got my first snake bite because it was my fault. Snakes only bite when they are stressed or scared,” Benhail recounts.

If Benhail is the type to be calm and not afraid of snakes, then Lousie is on a different side. She shivers and sweats at the sight of a snake even today, but there’s one thing that makes her a good rescuer.

“I have enough knowledge about snakes and their behavior. Over the years, I have learned and observed them to rationalize my fears. If you ever find a snake on the road or in your home, remember that it is not there to harm you. It is looking for prey or mates, sunbathing or trapped in nets,” said Lousie, who has searched for Benhail during rescue operations.

What happens when you rescue a snake?

Rescuing a snake requires several do’s and don’ts. Lousie and Benhail share their thrilling experiences.

The first question the duo asked when they received the phone call was whether the snake needed to be rescued. In many cases, snakes are just passing by.

After confirming that the snake is trapped in a net or in someone’s house or compound, they will immediately go to that location. If required, fire and forest authorities are also called.

Upon arrival at the venue, the first step is to calm the crowds. Benhail says mob mentality can be dangerous.

“People can be seen crying, screaming or worse, hatching plans to kill the snake. We try to calm people down and remove clutter from the space. The clutter can include people, a dog barking somewhere, littering, etc… Even the smallest distraction can be fatal. Then, with the help of hooks and bags, I started. I knew the snake wanted to hide, so I created an opportunity by placing an open sack and nudging the snake towards it. Once it is in the bag, it can easily be relocated. The aim is to avoid confrontation at all costs,” explains Benhail.

After the rescue operation, the couple educate people about snake tolerance.

“People have preconceived notions about snakes, and undoing harmonic years is very difficult. But instead of ignoring their fears right away, we try to understand their perspective. I always tell them snakes can’t go to the grocery store and buy them food. So, if a snake is found stalking a cat, empathize with both rather than just the cat. One can only imagine the desperation of snakes to get out of their comfort zone and put their lives at risk for food,” says Lousie.

Besides planning lavish weddings and rescuing animals, the couple actively trains police, fire and security departments in rescue operations.

Included in a series of movies

Most rescue operations have a story of their own. Lousie recalls her rescue operation around midnight when a young boy broke his leg while sitting on the wall and teasing the snake on the ground.

In another case, Benhail spent nearly 16 hours removing tar from a snake after it got stuck in a road construction operation.

“I used coconut oil, aloe vera and other home remedies to remove ringworm from the snake’s nostrils and mouth. It cannot breathe properly. After a few hours of observation, we released it into the woods,” said Benhail.

With so many thrilling, existential, and fun stories to tell, National Geographic recently released a 10-part series featuring the duo and their experiences.

The episodes will introduce the action duo and offer an up-close and personal experience of their techniques and contributions in rescuing Goa’s diverse snakes and other animals.

From a giant Indian cobra trapped in a deep well to the rescue of a giant Indian rock python strangled in a fisherman’s net, this series shows a number of events. It will also focus on informing and enhancing viewers’ understanding of diverse and abundant wildlife.

“With adventure and entertainment in mind, we (National Geographic) wanted to deliver a local story about two very inspirational individuals and challenge the myths and beliefs inherent in snakes and cows. close. We hope that our efforts will inspire viewers to care about the beautiful wildlife we ​​have in our country and encourage them to play an important role in preserving and protect it,” said Kevin Vaz, Head of Network Entertainment Channels, Star and Disney India.

Benhail and Lousie were happy that they were able to reach so many people at once and create widespread awareness through the series.

“Associating with a brand like National Geographic is a dream come true for us. I hope the show will change people’s minds and they won’t see snakes as deadly anymore. We also tried to use different words like ‘fearful, defensive and delicate’ to talk about snakes instead of more commonly used words like ‘aggressive, outstanding, etc’ adds Louise, we need to stop passing on our fear to the next generation and show empathy for snakes instead.

Image source: National Geographic

(Edited by Vinayak Hegde)