A brave forest officer has been praised online for removing a 15-foot-long king cobra from a stream that is used by locals for bathing in Vithura, Kerala.

G S Roshni managed to coax the snake into a bag before relocating it deep into the forest.

The officer was praised online for her courage.

In a remarkable display of skill and composure, G S Roshni, a woman forest officer, successfully rescued her first king cobra, a massive 14 to 15-foot-long reptile weighing around 20 kilograms, in just six minutes.


The incident occurred in Vithura, Paruthippaly Range, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Southern India, on July 6.


The visuals from the scene show the woman forest officer skillfully handling the king cobra using a hooked tool, patiently coaxing the massive, uncooperative snake into a sack during a tense six-minute rescue operation. Despite the equipment slipping multiple times—posing a potential risk to her safety—she remained composed and ultimately succeeded in securing the 15-foot cobra through quick thinking and steady technique.

Speaking to Newslions Media, GS Roshni, Forest Officer, Rapid Response Team, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, said that the daring rescue unfolded on Sunday afternoon when the snake was spotted close to a stream frequented by locals for bathing. Roshni, who has rescued over 800 snakes during her nearly eight-year career, was part of a five-member Rapid Response Team (RRT) dispatched to the scene after receiving calls from concerned residents.

Roshni, who joined the Kerala Forest Department in 2017 and received her snake rescue license in 2019, handled the situation with exceptional composure. Working alone, she used a snake hook and a large bag to secure the cobra, first gripping its tail, then patiently coaxing it toward the bag. At one point, she was even heard gently saying “please” to the hesitant reptile as it tried to slither away.

After a few tense moments, Roshni successfully coaxed the cobra into the bag, completing the entire operation in six minutes. “It was a mature snake, around 14-15 feet long and weighing nearly 20 kilos,” she said.

Roshni added that it was her first encounter with a king cobra in the district, as sightings are extremely rare in southern Kerala. The snake was later released deep into the forest.

The rescue has drawn widespread appreciation online, with netizens praising her courage, compassion, and expertise.