A three-foot-long spectacled cobra was successfully rescued from Vaibhav Society in Daulat Nagar, Borivali (East) after it was found in severe distress with its mouth unnaturally agape. The rescue operation was launched following a call from alert local resident Anish Daddikar and was conducted by Siddhesh Thavre, a trained volunteer from the Amma Care Foundation (ACF) and Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai).

“The snake was clearly in pain and unable to close its mouth. It was evident that something was lodged internally,” Sunish Subramanian Kunju, Honorary Wildlife Warden and representative of OIPA, ACF, and PAWS-Mumbai, said.

The cobra was swiftly transported to wildlife veterinarian Dr Manish Pingle who diagnosed that there was a decaying rat skull with bone fragments stuck deep within the reptile’s mouth and oesophagus.

“The foreign object was obstructing its ability to feed and breathe properly. Using forceps, we carefully extracted the remains and thoroughly flushed the affected area with saline to prevent infection,” Dr Pingle explained.

Post-treatment, the cobra showed signs of immediate recovery and was later released into its natural habitat. “This incident underscores the importance of public awareness and rapid intervention in urban wildlife emergencies,” Kunju added.