<p>Ranade, 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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />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.</p>
<p>Ranade, 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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />“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.<br /><br />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.</p>