Hisstory: The day we rescued a python from drunks at a bar

For most couples, dates typically happen at restaurants and coffee shops, but Benhail Antao, honorary wildlife warden with Goa's Forest Department, and his wife Louise Remedios, a wedding planner, had a rather "wild" courtship. It began when she decided to accompany Antao on his animal rescue operations. "We met at an event, and when I found out that Ben rescues snakes and crocodiles, I was intrigued. My exposure [to animals] had been restricted to cats and dogs," says Louise, who lives in Panaji with her husband. The duo added each other on social media and before long, they were speeding off into the darkness and rescuing agitated cobras and pythons caught in sticky situations.

Their thrilling adventures have made it to Snakes are Here, a new National Geographic series that premiers on January 10 at 8 pm. The show aims to take viewers on an inspiring journey into the wild, while showcasing the couple's contribution towards rescuing snakes and other wild animals in the beach state. "Snakes are such amazing creatures. Without hands and limbs, they are able to ambush an active prey such as birds, rats or monkeys, in the blink of an eye. They can also straddle both land and sea with equal ease. Most of them can climb trees, and even glide from tree to tree," shares Benhail. What stops the common man from appreciating these speedy strikers is fear and ignorance. "When you fear something, you will never be able to see the beauty. It's appreciation that can lead to conservation and that's what we want," he adds. According to Louise, what most people don't realise is that when a reptile or wild animal is on the prowl, it's putting itself in a life-threatening situation. "When people call us and say, ‘Hey, there's a python that has swallowed a pigling or kitten, they show empathy towards the prey but they lack the understanding to appreciate that the snake has worked hard and gone out of its way to land the prey for its survival. Prey are not passively waiting to be eaten." The idea is to respect predators and not disturb or interfere in nature's functioning, they suggest.

Benhail Antao and Louise Remedios rescuing an Indian Rock Python in Goa

She says that if you spot a snake, whether venomous or not, and it's not in your immediate proximity or causing a threat, leave it alone. "Snakes have no vested interest in attacking humans, and any bite occurrences are usually defensive responses to a perceived threat. A snake's inherent nature is to slink away." Shy and reclusive animals, the reptile is known to avoid confrontation with humans at all costs, preferring to flee if given the opportunity. "To build the venom in the first place is not easy; it takes so much of their resources and even if they use it on you, there's a good chance that you will kill it before you die. They don't want to waste it on you, really," explains Louise. However, if you don't back off, snakes will put up a brave fight till the end.

Snake bite has been declared as a Neglected Tropical Disease by the World Health Organisation, and India tops the list of countries with maximum snakebite deaths in the world. Around 46,000 people die of snakebites in India every year.

Benhail Antao rescuing a python that was caught in a fisherman's net

Louise recalls an incident when they received a call for a python rescue at midnight from a seemingly inebriated caller. When they reached the location, it happened to be a bar with 20-odd people mandhandling a python. While Ben stepped out of the car, Louise sat put. "He went in their midst and picked up the snake, came to my side of the car and dumped this massive python on my lap. I kept fearing that the snake might bite me. To our utter surprise, it was like a little puppy - that's how scared it was. When I caressed its forehead, it gently put its head down as if saying, ‘I've had enough and now I'm going to shut down'."

The biggest challenge for them is almost always controlling crowds while on rescues. Benhail says people like to offer their two cents, and tend to meddle before help is at hand. "And then, we not only have to rescue the snake, but also ensure that the injured person gets assistance."

The couple is clear that they don't wish to be recognised as snake rescuers, but educators. "The snake is going about its job: wanting food and shelter. It's people who need to be rescued."

What to do if you run into a snake

. Give it space so that it doesn't feel threatened. If you spot it in the middle of the trail, stop walking and give the snake time to move on. If it doesn't move even after a few minutes, resume walking slowly, and go around the snake.
. Work to identify them. It might be a good idea to be familiar with venomous snakes in your area.
. Wear over-the-ankle boots, thick socks and long loose pants, especially when venturing into heavily used trails.
. If you see a snake inside your home, get all people and pets out of the room immediately. Shut the door and fill the gap underneath with a towel, then call a professional snake catcher for assistance.