NK Singh with a cobra in Jamshedpur. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, July 15: It’s hissing good times for a popular snake catcher of the city, thanks to the rains.

The wet-and-humid season has caused cobras and non-poisonous snakes to slither out of their hideouts in search of cool and dry places. Many are falling into 63-year-old N.K. Singh’s net.

“I have never had it so good. Nowadays, on an average, I’m catching eight cobras daily besides non-poisonous snakes from gardens of residences, localities and parks,” said Singh.

According to the snake catcher, while the non-poisonous varieties are released in nearby jungles after being caught, cobras are sent to Kuchai in West Singhbhum where Singh owns a cobra-breeding farm and a poison extracting unit.

The venom extracted from the cobras are sold from the unit to reputable customers, which includes the Christian Medical College in Vellore and other research agencies. Singh has also tied up with different agencies that deal in snake poison.

He added that the extracted poison helps in preparing anti-venin vaccines and medicines.

Singh had caught a cobra from the ground floor of a Bara Flat near Agrico and as many as 15 dhamins (a non-poisonous snake) from Gwala Bustee in Bhuiyadih on Tuesday. Last week, he had managed to catch a 7ft cobra from Jubilee Park.

“Jubilee Park and the areas falling under Jamshedpur Co-operative College have become havens for cobras. Cobras abound in Smriti Udyan in Jubilee Park and in Nildih bungalows,” said Singh.

Singh justified his unique passion as a way of helping out people get rid of snakes. “Cobras have to dealt with safely and that is my job. Primarily, I am here to help people,” said Singh, who has been catching snakes for over a decade and does not charge anything for his services.