A curious rat snake put its head inside an empty beer can and became trapped in the wilds of eastern India on June 14.

The 5-and-a-half-feet long snake was found in Angul district, Odisha, with its head trapped and wriggling desperately to free itself.

A local resident called Snake Helpline and a volunteer, Himanshu Sekhar Dehury, went to the spot and took the snake to a safer place. He cut open the beer can with a pair of scissors carefully and released the snake, which had no injury, into its natural habitat.

Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of Snake Helpline said: "Irresponsible waste disposal is taking a toll on the wildlife. Snakes are attracted to these cans as frogs, rodents and other prey take refuge in them. People should at least crush beverage cans before throwing them away.”

A curious rat snake put its head inside an empty beer can thrown in the wild at Angul district in eastern India on June 14.

Its head got trapped and the 5-and-a-half-feet long snake was spotted wriggling desperately to free itself.

A local resident called Snake Helpline and a volunteer, Himanshu Sekhar Dehury, went to the spot and took the snake to a safer place. He cut open the beer can with a pair of scissors carefully and released the snake, which had no injury, in a natural habitat.

Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of Snake Helpline said: "Irresponsible waste disposal is taking a toll on the wildlife. Snakes are attracted to these cans as frogs, rodents and other prey take refuge in them. People should at least crush beverage cans before throwing them away.”