Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 6: In a rare and dramatic late-night incident, a six-foot-long Indian Rock Python was safely rescued near Bandra Fort on Tuesday night, November 4, after startling a group of evening walkers. The calm and skillful rescue operation, carried out by local wildlife rescuer Khayden Serpis, has since gone viral across social media, drawing wide appreciation from Mumbaikars.

According to sources, the incident occurred around 9.15 pm when a few residents were taking an evening stroll near the historic Bandra Fort. They were taken aback on spotting a large python slithering across the walkway. Without panicking, the group immediately reached out to Khayden Serpis — a well-known wildlife rescuer from Bandra — who promptly arrived at the spot.

Serpis, known for his quick and humane rescue operations, successfully captured the python without causing harm to the reptile or the public. The snake was later handed over to the Forest Department and released safely into a nearby green zone.

A social media post by ‘Bandra Buzz’ narrating the incident read, “On Tuesday night, a few Bandra locals got quite the surprise — a 6-foot Indian Rock Python crossing their path near Bandra Fort. Instead of panicking, they called Bandra’s own wildlife rescuer, Khayden Serpis, who handled the situation expertly.”

A video of the rescue has been circulating widely online. It shows Serpis holding the python firmly yet gently as it coils around his arm, while he calmly reassures onlookers and guides the reptile away from the area.

Indian Rock Pythons, though non-venomous, are among India’s largest snake species and are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Experts say such sightings are not uncommon in Mumba