JOIN USRanade, 37, was rescuing snakes, reptiles and other wild creatures since over two decades. He was working as animal inspector with the 136-year old Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in its Parel hospital, according to Col J C Khanna, the SPCA secretary.
“Yesterday (Saturday), he had rescued a cobra from somewhere and had kept it in a container in his home in the hospital premises. Around 2.30 am, he had gone to feed the creature when it suddenly attacked him. It’s a truly an unfortunate incident.” Khanna, a member of Animal Welfare Board of India said.
At the time of the incident, his wife with their two daughters - aged 10 and 3 - had gone to his father-in-law’s home in Malad suburb.
Hearing a commotion from Ranade’s quarters, some neighbours and other staffers rushed there to see him lying semi-conscious and writhing in pain. They summoned an ambulance and shifted him to a nearby hospital where he succumbed after a few minutes.
“He was an expert on reptiles, especially snakes. He even had emergency vaccines and a pump to remove poison at home. Despite all precautions, we are sad that he met his end in this manner,” Khanna said.
The incident is akin to the death of the famous Australian conservationist Steve Irwin in September 2006 when he was shooting for a Discovery Channel programme undersea when a poisonous stingray (fish) attacked him. Khanna assured Ranade’s family that since he was the sole breadwinner, the organisation would provide all necessary assistance to his surviving family members.