SRINAGAR, May 20: In a society where snake handling has long been considered a man’s job, a woman has silently rewritten the rule — walking into kitchens, government offices, and backyards to pull out mating rat snakes and deadly Levantine vipers during Kashmir’s peak breeding season.
Aaliya Mir, Programme Head for Wildlife SOS in Jammu & Kashmir, this week alone rescued two mating pairs — Indian rat snakes from Awantipora and Levantine vipers from Wathora. The reptiles were spotted by residents in kitchen gardens near paddy fields and on the premises of the Water and Irrigation Department.
The rescue of the Levantine vipers was particularly delicate. The species is one of the few venomous snakes found in the Valley, typically inhabiting dry, rocky, mountainous terrains. But habitat fragmentation, Alia Mir said, is driving them into residential spaces.
“When I reach a site, the first reaction is often surprise. People don’t expect a woman to handle snakes,” Mir told Kashmir Convener. “But inside Kashmiri homes, it is usually the woman who first spots the snake — near the water tap or in the backyard. If she can live with that fear, I can work with it.”
Wildlife SOS teams exercised special precautions while rescuing the vipers. After careful extrication and health assessment, all four snakes were released into suitable wild habitats away from human settlements, she said.
Speaking about gender distinction, Alia said “This is not about being a woman or a man. It is about reaching on time before panic turns into harm — either to the snake or to the person who saw it.”
As the breeding season continues, Mir said she expects more calls. “That’s fine. That’s what the helpline is for.”
Snake sightings in the Valley typically spike between April and May, the peak breeding season. Females prepare for egg-laying during this period, with hatchlings emerging around August during the monsoon.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder and CEO of Wildlife SOS, said Alia has quietly broken a stereotype. “In a region where wildlife rescue has been male-dominated, she has led from the front — handling venomous species, calming frightened residents, and training local responders.”
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