A family in Latehar has adapted to live with an 8 feet long snake identified as common bronzeback with ruddy brown skin.

The family of Govind Pathak, a Latehar district tourism coordinator, knows well that there is a big snake around his house at Rajhar but he and four other members of the family just remain careful but never do any harm to it.

It appears the snake too has developed an affinity for Pathak’s family.

The common bronzeback is a tree snake. It is harmless but its length is frightening. It is an active snake but doesn't want to confront human beings unless otherwise it has no option to slither down.

"This camouflaged tree top snake identified as a common bronzeback has been living in my orchard over the last four years. It has not harmed us so far. We have also not harmed it," said Govind Pathak to The Telegraph Online.

Asked how he vouches that this snake is the same one which he and his family claim to be around their house over the last 4 years, Pathak said, “Its ruddy brown colour, speed and activity all are embedded in our memory to confirm it is a loner snake living in our backyard for years now.”

He said his wife Pragya is however mortally afraid of this snake and she prays for the snake to migrate from their house.

"We are grateful to this snake as it has wiped out the rat menace. Our house has no rats. Credit for it goes to this snake," added Pathak.

However Pathak feels sad for the birds residing on the trees as this snake devours their chicks and eggs.

"There is hardly a week when we do not hear the panic chirrupings of the birds. When we hear it we get confirmed this snake has finished the progeny of the birds," lamented Pathak.

The snake preys on chicks and eggs of birds like Robin and Common Myna, abound in Pathak’s orchard where he also grows mangoes, pears, Indian blackberry or Java Plum commonly known as jamun.