Goa, July 6 -- JENIFER FERNANDES

joseph@herald-goa.com

ALDONA: In Aldona, there lives a man who answers every call of distress - not to chase danger away, but to carefully carry it back to safety. Meet Vinayak Chari, 45, a fabricator by profession and a snake rescuer by passion, who has been saving lives - human and reptile - for over 15 years.

For most people, the sudden sight of a snake in their home or yard evokes fear and panic. But for Vinayak, it's a call to action. "People are afraid because they don't understand snakes," he explains. "But no snake will bite you unless it feels threatened. If you stay calm and keep your distance, you're safe."

Over the years, Vinayak has rescued more than 1,000 snakes, including over 700 cobras...