Toton Das does not know Parseltongue — the magic language in which wizards at Hogwarts communicated with serpents. But he sure can handle snakes.

He has no magic wand or a wizard language to do that, just a stick and his bare hands.

Toton once caught 50 snakes from a mud hole (see graphic).

A serpent would send a chill up the spine of most persons. Many others would squirm.

But Toton saves snakes and nurses them back to health.

Toton, 45, owns a paan and cigarettes stall next to the main bus terminus in Islampur on NH31.

His skills of handling snakes are known in the area and he is often called in to rescue snakes that have entered households.

“He not only rescues snakes, both poisonous and otherwise, but sends a message that snakes are an important link in the chain of life and they need to be protected at a time many people would kill a snake without a second thought. We appreciate Toton’s hobby,” said Mandira Tirki, the forest range officer of Chopra.

Sitting in his modest home in Shantinagar Colony, Toton says he does not remember how he got attracted to snakes.

“As far as I can remember, I was always attracted to snakes and I used to be very disturbed to see or hear anyone harming them. Whenever I chanced upon a snake, I used to catch it and release it in a wooded area,” he says.

“I catch snakes with the help of a stick with which I pin down their heads, pick them up and keep them either in a box or a cloth bag. If they are hurt, I keep them at home and release them after they get better,” he adds.

Das at his shop in Islampur. Pictures by Mehedi Hedaytullah

Toton said a few years ago he had been called by residents of a very old building in Islampur that was full of snakes.

“I caught nearly 50 snakes, mostly cobras, from that building. Had I not been called, the householders would have definitely killed the snakes one by one,” Toton says.

He said he also went around creating awareness among people about snakes.

“I tell people that snakes never attack people unless they are threatened and ask them to help keep in check the rodent population that destroys crops each year. I find that lack of awareness among people makes them kill the snakes.”

Das’s reputation has spread far and wide, including Chopra and Dalkhola, about 25km from Islampur.

“Whenever there is a snake alert, we call Toton Das. Once he comes, we are relieved and we know that he will find the snake, take it and release it somewhere safe,” says Gopal Singh, the panchayat samiti sabhapati of Chopra.

Das said he has been assisting the forest department for the last 14 years in rescuing snakes and other reptiles like monitor lizards.

“Over the years I have rescued about 5,000 snakes,” he said.

“Most of them are cobras. I have rescued about 80 pythons that were relocated in the forests of Sukna on the outskirts of Siliguri. The other species I captured were kraits and Russell’s vipers,” he said.

The work Toton does not pay him much.

“It would have been helpful had the forest department given me some honorarium as I often have to lock my shop up and go to catch snakes. They pay for the transport.”

The divisional forest officer of Raiganj, Apurba Sen, said he has heard about Das and his snake-catching skills.

“I have heard about his expertise and that he helps out the department. I shall see if we can do something for him.”