Watch: Kerala woman officer calmly rescues 15-foot King Cobra in viral video

When a King Cobra– one of the most feared snakes– was spotted near a stream used by local residents, a routine day for Kerala forest officials quickly turned into a high-stakes rescue. What followed was a six-minute operation that has now caught the internet’s attention, not for how dangerous it looked, but for how calmly it was handled.
Cobra found near human activity
The snake was seen on July 6 near a stream in Peppara, located in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. Concerned by the presence of such a large snake in an area frequented by bathers, residents informed the forest department.


According to media reports, a five-member Rapid Response Team (RRT) was immediately sent to the location to assess and manage the situation.
A first-time rescue of its kind
Among the team was GS Roshni, a forest officer with nearly eight years of field experience. While she had handled hundreds of snake rescues in the past– both venomous and non-venomous, this was the first time she had encountered a King Cobra during an active rescue, news agency PTI reports, as quoted by India Today.

Speaking to PTI, Roshni said that it was her first rescue involving a King Cobra.

She also mentioned that such sightings are uncommon in that particular region, making the encounter a rare one in her career.
Calm and control on full display
In the video of the rescue, Roshni is seen approaching the King Cobra with a hooked pole and a large sack. What caught viewers’ attention was not just the methodical approach, but the way she stayed completely composed throughout. At one point, as she guided the snake into the bag, she’s even heard saying “please” – a small but striking moment of calm communication in the middle of a tense rescue.

As per the India Today report, the operation lasted around six minutes. Despite a few attempts by the snake to evade capture, it was safely secured without harm to either the animal or the team.
Safe release into the forest
The King Cobra, estimated to be between 14 and 15 feet in length and weighing nearly 20 kilograms, was later released into a forest area, far from human settlements, as per the report.
Public reaction and recognition
The video has gone viral on social media, with many praising Roshni for her steady handling of a potentially dangerous situation. Her experience and presence of mind during the rescue have been widely appreciated, especially given that it was her first King Cobra encounter.