Hissing for rescue: Mapping the human–snake niche in Coimbatore through a snake rescue analytical approach

This study examines the patterns and trends of snake rescues in North Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, over 35 months (2022–2024) to analyse snake ecology and develop human–snake conflict mitigation measures. A total of 2318 snakes representing 17 species were recorded, including 980 venomous and 1338 non-venomous individuals. The Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosa) was the most frequently rescued species, followed by the Indian cobra (Naja naja), the Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii), and the common wolf snake (Lycodon aulicus). Key parameters such as refugia type, refugia temperature, and rescue timing were documented by Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust (WNCT) snake rescuers. Analysis revealed that seasonal fluctuations significantly influenced both rescue frequency and refugia use. Among identified refugia, debris piles were the most utilised, followed by indoor rooms, open spaces, and storage areas or machinery. Snake rescues peaked during the summer months and were most frequent in the afternoon hours. Spatial mapping identified high human–snake conflict zones, underscoring the need for targeted conservation strategies and improved conflict mitigation measures in these high-risk areas.