Daijiworld Media Network – Pune

Pune, Jul 28: A 70-year-old woman from Amboli village in Mulshi taluk, Pune, has taken the internet by storm after a video of her calmly handling a snake in her house went viral. The woman, identified as Shakuntala Sutar, stunned viewers with her fearless approach, even wrapping the snake around her neck while offering advice on handling such reptiles.

The viral clip, shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), shows the snake hiding behind a wooden board inside her home. Undeterred, Ms Sutar pulls it out gently, identifies it as a non-venomous rat snake, and proceeds to educate onlookers.

"There's no need to panic when you see a snake. Not every snake is venomous. The rat snake is harmless and actually benefits farms by eating rats and pests," she explains in the video. Her composed demeanor and deep understanding of local wildlife earned praise from thousands online.

Rat snakes, or Dhaman as they're called locally, are commonly found in rural India and play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance by keeping the rodent population in check.

Earlier this month, a similar viral moment surfaced when a man was seen fearlessly holding a massive king cobra in his bare hands. The video, shared by Indian Forest Service officer Parveen Kaswan, showcased the sheer size and power of the world’s longest venomous snake.

While such encounters highlight remarkable courage, wildlife experts continue to advise the public not to attempt handling snakes without proper training and to contact forest officials or snake rescue volunteers for safe removal.