Snake Handling and The Real Spiderman

This is a photo of desperation and fear.

She's smiling but she's terrified.

The young mother in this picture needed a real-life superhero. Lucky for her, one showed up that day.

I traveled all around Goa, India for a few days with my new friend Benhail. He does wildlife rescues for people who find a snake in their bedroom or garden. The one at this house was in the kitchen.

Someone saw the snake early that morning, about six or eight hours before we got there. Grandma came over to help keep the children out of that part of the house and watch for any movement in the cupboards. They saw it again around noon. By the time we arrived, the mood was very tense.

Ben has been doing snake rescues for decades. He has gone on thousands of calls. The story of his early days sounded somewhat typical of local snake-handlers I have met all around the world. He went from being a curious kid, to "knows enough to be dangerous", to becoming a mentor in his community. His methods have evolved up through every level, where he now focuses on low-stress non-contact capture. There are no selfies. There is no hype or showmanship. It is the best compliment I can give, but going on rescues with him was exceedingly BORING.

As I got to know him over time, I started to feel that Ben was a bit lost. He's done it all now. Filming a show about snake rescue for NatGeo turned his life into a circus. It was no longer as simple as a wildlife enthusiast helping his community. People recognized him. He had supporters and fans. But there were also those with darker intentions, lurking in the shadows.

If he makes the slightest misstep or has any appearance of impropriety, it unleashes a torrent of criticism. People will say he's showing off or abusing the animals. It's not called "paranoia" if people are actually conspiring for you to fail.

He carries the proper permit to transport snakes, but there are contradictions and gaps in the laws. Thanks to this bumbling government bureaucracy, he could be arrested on a technicality at any time for doing exactly what the forest service asked him to do.

Then there is the very real danger of enemies he has made, by advocating for mistreated animals and for helping prosecute poachers. Ben has gone on snake rescue calls that turned out to be an ambush. One of these times, an angry mob surrounded his car when he arrived. A few months prior, he had helped catch a local collector or animal abuser, and that guy was looking for revenge. Tempted as I am to share some of the crazy, violent lunacy that ensued, I'm sure these are not pleasant details Ben would like broadcast. Besides, it is not my story to tell.

Back at that young mother's house with a snake on the loose, we ransacked the place like DEA cops with a search warrant on a Miami yacht. It was all so weird. I found myself in India, on my hands and knees, going through a million Tupperware containers in a very cobwebby closet. Snakes are very good at hiding because the ones that aren't good at it - get eaten. These calls often involve a shed full of tools, a wood pile, or a jumble of waist-high construction materials. The joke I was told twenty years ago was, anytime someone needs a pile of bricks moved, they just call in a cobra sighting.

The kitchen wasn't super tidy when we started, but we made it into truly one big mess. Our concerned host insisted that we leave everything where it is and she would clean up afterwards. She was just grateful that we were there.

Most people can relate to that feeling of helplessness when the laundry machine has been broken for a week. Only a few hard headed dads can get in there, pull off covers, and make the repairs themselves without causing further irreversible damage. For the rest of us, it is a great feeling of relief and gratitude when the service guy finally shows up. Well, now imagine that the laundry machine problem could bite your child and kill them...like a snake.

In the end, we didn't find the little danger-noodle anywhere in the house. I tried my best to connect with the lady and give her every assurance that it was probably gone. I told her how they wander around looking for food and rarely stay in the same place. There are no rats or frogs in here, so I'm sure it has found its way out.

The minute we cleared the place however, Ben had been out the door. He acted like the walls have eyes. He just wanted to get in, get the snake, and get out. He didn't mind that I was trailing behind, but seemed to want minimal interaction with the family.

I found the mismatch of different emotions during that visit to be incredible. Ben felt frazzled, un-appreciated, and persecuted. Meanwhile this poor worried mother was right in front of him. She was deeply grateful for his help in her moment of need.

I think to myself, "Buddy. Did you even see her?"

I like superhero movies, but reality is even better. Ben is less snarky than Spiderman and way easier to keep up with.

Snakebite mainly occurs when someone is trying to catch or kill it. Therefore, Ben has saved many lives of average Indian citizens, as well as countless snakes and other animals. He has given hundreds of talks at schools and conferences. He has trained generations of new, young snake catchers.

He has done all of this for free.

During our time hanging out, I paid for a meal. I gave Ben a few snake tongs. I listen to him. I insisted on covering gas money for running around town. Each of these was a simple act of enjoyment on my part, and he was very kind to me as well. But he gushed with gratitude for all of my niceties. He was so pleased at the joy and curiosity I showed during the rescues. He was reluctant to let me pay for things, but then said thank you over and over again when I did.

I struggle to put this on paper because it sounds so arrogant, but as we said goodbye he told me that I helped restore his faith in humanity.

I thought, "What??? This is so backwards!"

I relish how triggered Ben will probably be when he reads me referring to him as a "superhero". To which I would lovingly and mockingly answer, "Fkkkkk you for losing track of what is good and right in the world!" haha

We had a hell of a lot of fun and I caught him accidentally smiling at one point. I did the ole scam of taking a "group" picture, when really I was focused on him for a few close-ups. Looking good with a big smile is an important part of self-care, in my view.

Benhail, my dear friend - you have saved 1,000 lives. I bought lunch. I hope that if you only glanced at her before, you now take a minute to really see the face of that woman in her kitchen. Look closely for a minute. She needs you. You lay her worry to rest, you educate her, and you help keep her children safe.

Who needs a cape or superhero web spinners, when you have a snake bag, my friend!

PS - Season 5 of his National Geographic show "Snakes SOS" is airing all over India soon, and GOOD NEWS, the USA has bought rights to the show as well. So hopefully we can all watch Benhail and Louise do their thing from back home.