ACT_4 ACT_5_COMMERCIAL_BREAK END FARM_WORKER GOWRI GOWRI_SHANKER_SYNC GRAPHICS_ONSCREEN GRAPHICS_ON_SCREEN MALE_ONLOOKER_SYNC ONLOOKER ONLOOKERS SIMON SIMON_KEYS SIMON_KEYS_INT SIMON_KEYS_INTERVIEW SIMON_KEYS_SYNC SIMON_KEYS_VO SIMON_KEYS_VOICEOVER SIOUXSIE_GILLETT SIOUXSIE_GILLETT_ADR SIOUXSIE_GILLETT_INT SIOUXSIE_GILLETT_SYNC SNAKE_SHYAM SURYA SURYA_SYNC 	

	SNAKE SHYAM
Just a moment. Just a moment. Give the scissor, give the scissor.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Oh, give the scissor? Do you want, should we not pin it? 
SIMON KEYS
Scissors, I’ve got. Knife, I’ve got. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Here you go, I’ve got scissors.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Let’s pin him and hold the head, yeah? “This is pretty cool. We’re actually genuinely rescuing and saving India’s biggest killer.”
SIMON KEYS
She’s trying to open her mouth slightly. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Let’s have a look. 
SIMON KEYS
Big fangs. The fangs are situated on top of the roof of the mouth, and they’re hinged, which means they can move independently from one another, Oh, check out the fangs.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Move back, move back. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Bring it out. Bring it out.
SIMON KEYS VO
We’re professional snake catchers, and we’re now faced with our biggest challenge yet a global snake crisis. Snake-and-people encounters are escalating.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Oh.  
SIMON KEYS SYNC
And we have to protect both. It’s getting hotter, wetter and crazier, and the call-outs just keep coming. 

	SIMON KEYS VO
We’re in India for snake catching season and we’ve rescued some awesome snakes, including three of the species responsible for the most snakebite deaths in India, the spectacled cobra, the Russell’s viper and the common krait. We also found our holy grail, the iconic king cobra. Since our visit last year, the human population in the city of Mysore has grown over 2%, which means more overlap between humans and snakes and more call-outs around the clock. We’re helping Snake Shyam and his son Surya 
	SIMON KEYS VO
One of our biggest highlights this time has been joining Gowri Shankar, the king cobra guru in these parts, rescuing and releasing the largest venomous snakes on the planet.

King cobras need plenty of natural habitat to thrive, but with so much deforestation, they’re running into humans more and more. This call-out could be our worst nightmare, a massive snake at a school. It’s late afternoon, and we’re losing light. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s a king cobra, apparently, and it’s gone up into this tree here. 
SIMON KEYS VO
This is not going to be easy. We’ve never caught a king in a tree before. 
010225SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
We know how much Simon loves trees, so.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Can’t even climb that one. It’s so thin. 
SIMON KEYS VO
This is the biggest cobra we’ve ever faced. In Durban, we spend ages looking for the snake, but this one’s hard to miss. It’s thicker than the branch it’s on. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Do you think something scared him and he’s gone up there? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yes. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
He’s not gone up there to sleep for the night, has he? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Mostly, it’ll be dogs, you know, barking at them, like this, dogs.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
And we’ve got a dog here, yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, yes, dog. How big do you think it is, Gowri? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
I’d say about 3.5 metres (11.5 ft). 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
A big male.	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
A big male. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
He’s very alert, that’s for sure. Now it’s going that way. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So what do you normally do? Would you wait to see if it comes down? Would you climb up?
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. We can wait. It will come down. 
	

	SIMON KEYS VO
Gowri’s been working with Kings for over 20 years. He seems confident the snake will come to us.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Well, good thing is we can clearly see the snake right up there. And we don’t want him going into the other tree. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT INT
Thankfully, the school is closed. However, we need to get that snake removed. We don’t want it there in the morning when the school opens. 
010321SIMON KEYS VO
King cobras are diurnal and will usually find a safe burrow to curl up in for the night. But when threatened, they may also take to the trees to get some shuteye. Well, they actually sleep with their eyes open, as they don’t have eyelids. But these huge snakes are just as happy in the trees as on the ground. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, come this side. 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
Prashanth, can anybody get up there?	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Prashanth, [Non-English]. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. Oh, see, he’s going up there. That’s what we didn’t want him to do, because now he’s going into this big tree. That’s going to be a problem. 
010356SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, what’s he doing? Gowri, we do have a ladder. 
SIMON KEYS INT
I was just about to take my shoes off and climb the tree, but then someone beat me to it. Damn. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, look at this man climbing. Wow. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
I know. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Simon, learn from this man. He makes it look so easy. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s an Indian ladder. 
SIMON KEYS INT
I think I’m a bit too old for shimmying up that pole. He just went straight up, like Spiderman. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
He’s going to try and scare it to go back that way. 
SIMON KEYS VO
This is actually insane! He could get killed by the fall, the cobra, or both!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
[Non-English].
010427SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Pretty crazy. Can you imagine, in South Africa, asking a bystander to climb the tree and scare the black mamba to the opposite direction? I don’t think we’ll have many volunteers. 
SIMON KEYS VO
It’s amazing how people react to snakes in India compared to South Africa. Here’s a bystander risking his life for a king cobra. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Look at him!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
He’s not scared of heights, that’s for sure. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
No. So what they’re trying to achieve here, he’s gone up the tree in a bid to hopefully scare the snake in the opposite direction, to go lower down. 
It won’t come near you. 	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
I guarantee it. 	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So this man trusts you?
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
He trusts me, when I was trying to, yeah.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
When you’re saying, don’t worry, don’t worry? Ooh, something sounded cracking. Ooh.
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
Yes.	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Pass him the stick now, yeah. 
010507SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
And this man’s happy to do this. I love this. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
He is happy to do it, yeah. People have a very good relationship with the snakes, you know. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
No, it’s amazing, I love it. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
That’s, that’s very important. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
I think it’s amazing. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
They’re very cooperative. 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Slowly. Slowly. Yes, just like that. 	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Brilliant. 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
One more time. You should do it softly. 	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
[Non-English].
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
If you do it rough, it’ll come to the other side.	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
[Non-English].
SIMON KEYS INT
Snake’s on the move. It wants to get away. We’ve got a guy poking it with a stick. What can possibly go wrong? 
ONLOOKERS
[Non-English].
SIMON KEYS VO
When a king cobra comes at you hissing and showing his hood, it means business. I admire this guy for having a go, but now it’s time to back down. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
[Non-English].
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Splinters on the toes. 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
Yeah, yeah, that was good, isn’t it?	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. Yeah, that’s good, isn’t it? 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
We can’t do that. Can you?	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
We can’t do that. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
No!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Can you? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
No! He’s, he’s incredible.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
No, I wouldn’t go do that. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
This is the best opportunity you can have. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
I know, yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Simon, go up!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Tree climbing. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
You can go climbing. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, lesson one. 
010603SIMON KEYS VO
Jokes aside, the clock’s ticking, we’re losing light, and now the snake’s fired up. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT ADR
Gowri’s going to have a go at persuading it to come down, but he’s directly beneath it. Whenever the snake has the higher ground, it’s more dangerous. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Watch it don’t fall on your head. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC 
This snake has enough venom to kill an elephant, so more than enough to kill all of us here. But Gowri’s keeping his cool. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
It’s like a free highway for them, you know. They’re so comfortable on the tree. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh yeah. This snake is going to be really worried now. Everyone’s been poking it, there’s a huge crowd, and it is super alert. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT ADR 
If it falls and we can’t contain it, any one of us could get a deadly bite. 
010654SIMON KEYS VO
Gowri gives one last nudge with the pole. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Which side is he going? 
SIMON KEYS VO
And suddenly, it’s action stations!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, I’ll go the other side of the fence in case he goes that way. And then, Sioux, you’re that side. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Mm-hm. 
SIMON KEYS VO
The cobra is moving fast now. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Where is he? Got it, Gowri? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, got him. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
I can nudge his tail. There you are, it’s coming through, coming through. Okay? 
SIMON KEYS VO
We can’t let it go back up the tree. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, okay. Touch its tail, touch its tail. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Gently. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Gently. Okay, come on. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Big snake. There we are. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Get the tail. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Touch its head now. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, you ready? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Ooh, barbed wire, watch the barbed wire. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Gowri, watch, he’s wedged himself.
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Just touch him, touch him. Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, he’s coming. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
That’s good. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
He’s coming through, there you are. Watch the barbed wire. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Lift him, lift. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Ooh, barbed wire. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Let’s pick him up. Oh, there we go. Hold on. You okay? Right, there you go. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Thank you. That was good. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
That is a big snake. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, he’s big. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Wow. There we are. Gave us the runaround. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Ooh, that’s a huge one. Look at this. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
That’s a big snake! 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
That’s a big one. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Thick, hey? 
SIMON KEYS INT
This is when you realise how thick and heavy these snakes really are. 
010801SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Amazing. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Thick, thick, thick. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
That’s huge. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Quite dark as well, this one. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yes. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, it’s beautiful. 
010806	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
What do you think the size would be?	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
What do you think the size of it would be?  
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Shame, where’s the dog? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Geez, it’s got to be three, it’s probably about 3.5 metres (11.5 ft), isn’t it? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah? 3-3.5 metres (10-11.5 ft)?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
That’s gorgeous. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
He was happy up there. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So would he have slept in the tree at night?
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, maybe if, uh, people didn’t spot him and,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Settled down. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
He would have slept there for the night. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Really? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
But this is, look at this. It’s a whole village. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, no, no, no. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Here he comes. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Look at that! Gorgeous!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Stare you straight in the face. They’re not scared. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Shame. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
They’re intelligent. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
They’re intelligent, yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Look at that. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Look at that. 
SIMON KEYS INT
King cobras are definitely different to any other snake I’ve dealt with before. They kind of stare you in the face. They’ve got these deep brown, gorgeous eyes, but kind of look at you in a way that, why are you interfering with me? I’m a nice, big snake. I can’t explain it. It’s a, it’s a, it’s like kind of a mesmerisation. I don't know. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
They’re so impressive and their, their hiss, that noise.
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
They, that, they don’t hiss. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Growl. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
They growl.  
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
No, it’s growl. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Growl. It’s actually growling. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yeah, it’s actually growling, it’s not even a,
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Just warning you, yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
And their eyesight, it’s super focused. 
	GRAPHICS ONSCREEN
Subtitle
He is a male, huge guy.	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
He is a male, huge guy.
010907SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s amazing to see this snake. Now we’ve got hold of it, got it finally out the tree, we can actually check the real size of this snake and the girth on it. It’s huge. It’s about 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) long, a gorgeous male. You can just appreciate how tricky they can be to handle sometimes just because of their sheer size and strength. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
You want to feel the strength? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, let’s have a go. Thanks. Okay, wow, he’s a heavy snake. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
He’s heavy. 
SIMON KEYS VO
This is the first time I’m tailing a wild king cobra. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Strong!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, very strong. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
All muscle. It’s basically like a python on steroids. Ooh, here he comes. 
SIMON KEYS INT
A python on steroids with a lot of venom. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Hey, hello, you’ve got my tail. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Siouxsie?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Just grab hold of it. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Feel it. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Wow. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
It’s so strong. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Grab it higher up. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, higher up. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
That’s it, that’s it. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Wow. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Watch him. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
God, that’s strong!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, he is strong. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
I know. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Strong, strong, strong. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s a lot of snake to manoeuvre around. Right. Yeah, I will now. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Good? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, right. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Ooh, straight to the bag. Straight to the bag. 
011000GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
People, yeah, hold it like that. Hold it like that. Let him go. Let him go. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
In you go.  
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Good, good, good. Let him go. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
He’s going to go.  
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Come on, you. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Let him go. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
In you go, in you go. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Let him go. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
And,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, watch your leg!
011008	ACT 2	[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
	 	SIMON KEYS SYNC
All right. Oh, that’s a,
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC 
Yeah, turn it around, turn it around. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
That’s a heavy snake!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
This is the biggest one so far. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT INT
This rescue was really inspiring. It didn’t take us long to get that big snake out the tree. Normally, in South Africa, it can take us hours to capture the snake. And having that bystander really helped. 
011027	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
Madhu, you have done a great job. That is all you had to do. 	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
[Non-English].
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, awesome. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Well done, you. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, well done. Okay, should we go? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Well done. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Brilliant. That was amazing. No, brilliant. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Awesome. Well done. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Well done. Well done to this guy. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, that’s good. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Thank you. Well done. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay. Thanks, hey. Well done. Cheers, hey. Well, that was fun. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Now I know why you lift weights, Gowri. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Oh. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, put that in there. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
There we go. 
011047GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay. So how much do you think it weighs, he weighs? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
I’m going to go 8.2 kilos (18 lbs). 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah? 8.2 kilos (18 lbs), that’s perfect. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Ah, well, what are you going to say? I’ll have a go in between. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
I would say, like, seven (15.4 lbs). 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
You reckon?
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, you’re lower. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, Simon’s eight. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Going a bit lower, okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So, 7.5 (16.5 lbs). 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, all right. Let’s just see what it is.
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay, let’s check. Okay, ready?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Go on, let’s see. No cheating now. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
I’m not cheating. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Let’s make sure we can all see. 
011110SIMON KEYS SYNC
Ooh, eight!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Eight? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Eight. Bang on eight. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, my goodness. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
[Non-English].
ONLOOKER
[Non-English].
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Good. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So, what?
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
You see, they just want to, the snake to be released within their village. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Oh, great!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Aw!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Don’t take it anywhere. 
SIMON KEYS INT
The locals actually say to us, please don’t take it far, we want it around. We just didn’t want it near the school. So we’re going to drive up the road and put it straight back in the bush, where it belongs. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT ADR
In India, king cobras are worshipped as gods. So having one in your neighbourhood is considered a huge privilege and a good omen. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
There you go.
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
There he goes. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
There we go. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, there are plenty of trees here for you. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
They’re impressive, hey? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Ah, look at that. Beautiful. How beautiful is that? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Back in the jungle. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Such a lovely feeling, isn’t it? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, brilliant. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
It’s a nice feeling. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yay.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s impressive, that’s for sure. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Let’s go. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
All right, thanks. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Lovely. All done? Wonderful. 
011209	





	SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
Despite the chaos of daily life here in India, what I find amazing is the positive attitude that people have towards animals. India’s Big Four venomous snakes claim tens of thousands of lives every year, yet people respect their scaled neighbours and want to help. The more snakes we rescue, the more that need releasing back into the wild. 
SIMON KEYS
In there? 
SIMON KEYS INTERVIEW
Some children phoned us, saying they’ve seen a large snake in some bushes, but it seems trapped.
SIMON KEYS VO
We hook up with our old friend, the legendary Snake Shyam.

SIMON KEYS
There it is, look. See it? Wow, it’s a great big Russell’s viper. Apparently, they saw a snake wriggling around in this netting, so it’s gone in there maybe looking for food or just by chance, and got itself stuck in there now.
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah.
011255SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
These camouflaged hunters set up their ambush, often in leaf litter by pathways and trails.  When rodents or an unsuspecting human limb get within range, their strike is explosive, less than a tenth of a second. In the city of Mysore, there are thousands of people per square kilometre, making it highly likely that someone will step on a Russell’s viper.
SIMON KEYS
Shyam, shall we pull the snake away from the bush?
SNAKE SHYAM
We’ll do one thing. We take it out, this net too, on the road. 
SIMON KEYS
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Or should we do it here? Because won’t cars be coming past? 
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah. Shall we take it to here? This good? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah, I think put it on there.
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, let’s just have a look. 
011340SNAKE SHYAM
Just a moment, just a moment.   
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Oh, yeah, no, no, it’s through it. 
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, it is stuck. Yeah, it’s gone.  
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Oh, shame. 
SIMON KEYS
Shame. And a nice big one.
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah, it’s a big one.
SIMON KEYS
It’s light in colour. It’s beautiful.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah, let’s, oh! 
SIMON KEYS
Oh!
SNAKE SHYAM
Just a moment, just a moment. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
There we go. 
SIMON KEYS
There’s nothing safe about this snake. This is one seriously dangerous snake, a highly respected Russell’s viper.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
We can leave it there.
011400SIMON KEYS
It’s one of the snakes that inflict the most bites here in India. It’s one of the most important, medically wise. It’s one of the Big Four. If you’re bitten by one of these, you’ve got to get to hospital fast. Potent, hemotoxic venom. It’s a beautiful specimen. Looks like a female, a nice big one.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Shame, she’s beautiful. Nice size.
SIMON KEYS
These, they can get to around 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8 metres) in length as well. Sometimes, they have beautiful white in between these scales here. This one lacks it actually, but it’s quite light in colour. Sometimes, they’re quite dark, sometimes almost yellow as well. Beautiful snake. However, now we need to get it out, get it out of there. 
011436SIMON KEYS INTERVIEW
The more it wriggles, the more tangled up it gets.
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
A real puzzle, cutting a deadly striker free.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Shame. It’s getting worse. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Just a moment. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Just a moment. Just a moment. Give the scissor, give the scissor.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Oh, give the scissor? Do you want, should we not pin it? 
SIMON KEYS
Scissors, I’ve got. Knife, I’ve got. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Here you go, I’ve got scissors.
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah, hold and pull it. Pull it.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Pull the netting. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Pull it, pull it, pull it. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Shyam, watch yourself. Shame, this snake.
SNAKE SHYAM
Pull it, pull it, pull it.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Keep pulling?
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Just watch your hand. I’m worried about you.
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
If Sioux lets go of the net, this powerful viper could strike all three of us in less than a second.
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Russell’s vipers’ fang GFX	
011512	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Russell’s viper
Venom gland
Compressor muscle
Loosely articulated fangs
Front fang tip opening
	SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
Like a rattlesnake, the Russell’s viper has one of the fastest and most advanced venom-dispatching mechanisms in the snake world. In the blink of an eye, two long hypodermic needle-like hinged fangs extend forward and enable them to inject nearly 50% of their stored venom.
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
 Human GFX	
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Venom hemotoxic
Tissue necrosis	SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
This cocktail of toxins primarily attacks blood and tissues, causing rapid internal bleeding, while various cytotoxins destroy cells, resulting in necrosis and major tissue damage, which may explain the Indian myth that this snake’s breath can cause leprosy, or even touching it can make your flesh rot.
011600SNAKE SHYAM
See the place. You see the, yeah. Just a moment, just a moment.
SIMON KEYS INTERVIEW
To the poor snake, this net is like a noose tightening around it. If we don't cut it off, the snake will eventually die.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Let’s pin him and hold the head, yeah? This is why these gloves are handy. We can now, safely, Have you got the scissors? 
SIMON KEYS
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Shame. And this would constrict, wouldn’t it? It would hurt the snake.
SNAKE SHYAM
Be careful now. Okay, okay. 
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, shame. It’s calmed down now. I think the snake knows you’re helping it. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Well, I mean, it knows. 
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
This viper can rotate its fangs, and even with gloves, there are very real risks. 
SIMON KEYS
She’s trying to open her mouth slightly. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Let’s have a look. 
011645SIMON KEYS
Big fangs. The fangs are situated on top of the roof of the mouth, and they’re hinged, which means they can move independently from one another. They sit flat in the top of the jaw, but when the snake strikes, Oh, check out the fangs.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
This snake is not saying thank you to us, is it?
SIMON KEYS
Wow! No, no, it’s not very happy really, but you can understand it. It’s stressed out.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
No, of course.
SNAKE SHYAM
Not happy because he’s stuck in the net. Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I love that. 
SIMON KEYS
He’s trying to bite. You can see a little bit there.  
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Whoa, look at that. 
SIMON KEYS
But there we go.
SNAKE SHYAM
Be careful. 
SIMON KEYS
And how many snake bites do you get from these a week?
SNAKE SHYAM
The people who work on the lands?
SIMON KEYS
Yes.
SNAKE SHYAM
The farmers, they really, In Mysore surroundings, we’ll get nearly, in a month, eight to ten.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Eight to ten?
SIMON KEYS
Eight to ten people bitten.
SNAKE SHYAM
In, in, in our season.
SIMON KEYS
Yes.
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
But they reckon around 20,000 a year, don’t they, from these? 
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah, because,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
But that’s deaths. That’s just deaths alone. Wow! This is pretty cool. We’re actually genuinely rescuing and saving India’s biggest killer. But isn’t it nice people care?
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah, people,
011739SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I love that. Rather than just think, oh, it’s just a snake. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
They’ve actually, They’re worried. They’ve called.
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah. Put it in a bag?  
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, we can put it in a bag or a box, whatever you’d prefer. 
SNAKE SHYAM
The box. Just a moment, just wait, Simon. 
SIMON KEYS
Okay, lets, 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah.
011748SIMON KEYS
Shall we put tail first, or do you want to release the snake and let it go into the box?
SIMON KEYS
I can. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I think tail, I would’ve thought. 
SIMON KEYS
Okay, let me. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Sorry. 
SIMON KEYS
All right. 
SNAKE SHYAM
See the fang? Slowly, Simon. 
SIMON KEYS
Okay, there’s the fang. I’m just going to let go. One, two, three, and away. 

011800	ACT 3	COMMERCIAL BREAK
SIMON KEYS
Calm, calm, calm, calm, calm, calm, calm.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Can’t you put the head by the box?
SNAKE SHYAM
Just a moment. Just a moment. Hold the tail. 
SIMON KEYS
Just let it calm down. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Hold the tail.
SIMON KEYS
There we go, that’s it. Wait, wait, wait. It still wants to bite. Let it settle. That’s it. Okay.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Shame. Put her in the box. Come on, you. Yeah!
SIMON KEYS
That’s it, in you go.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Tickle the tail. Come on, you. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Slowly. 
SIMON KEYS
Slowly. That’s it. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
There we go, almost. 
SIMON KEYS
Nearly there. 
SNAKE SHYAM
He will go. He will go. He will go. 
SIMON KEYS
And shut the door. 
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
This snake is so big, it’s struggling to fit in the box!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
It’s too big. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Tip the box up so it falls back? 
SIMON KEYS
That’s it. That’s fine. 
SNAKE SHYAM
Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS
In. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
And we’re really happy this snake hasn’t got any serious injuries. It's got no injuries. So for us, it’s okay to release it. So that’s a really gorgeous thing. We really have saved this snakes life, which is what we’re about.
011851SIMON KEYS
No, we didn’t. Those guys did over there. Well done, guys.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Well, they did, yeah. 
SNAKE SHYAM
That fellow, that, that’s the fellow. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
You’ve done amazing, thank you. Thanks for calling for help. I think that’s lovely.
SIMON KEYS
Well done, boss.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Thank you. It just shows you the attitudes here. They coulda left it, walked away. But they were concerned, they called, and it’s here now. So, brilliant.
SIMON KEYS
That’s it, thanks. 
SIMON KEYS INTERVIEW
There's a real fear in South Africa, and often, people try and harm a snake because they're scared of it, and that's when they get bitten. In India, it’s completely different. They've got respect, and that's a massive thing.
011923SIMON KEYS VO
It's refreshing to see that even terrified people don't necessarily want to hurt snakes. And it motivates us even more.
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
To cope with the volume of calls, we split up and head to the other side of the city to help Shyam’s son, Surya. 
SURYA
Come, come, get in, get in. [inaudible] It will be an exciting day. 
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
Hey may be young, but he knows his snakes, and the local language.

SIMON KEYS SYNC
Hiya.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
You guys got a snake?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Snake? 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
Yes, hiding there. 	ONLOOKER SYNC
Yes. Hiding there. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
A big snake?
MALE ONLOOKER SYNC
No, medium.
012000SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Medium. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Medium snake. All right. 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
It is hiding inside here. 	MALE ONLOOKER SYNC
It is hiding inside here. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Under there?
MALE ONLOOKER SYNC
Yes.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Oh, okay. Where did it go? In there?
MALE ONLOOKER SYNC
Definitely that side, that’s the one.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
In there? 
MALE ONLOOKER SYNC
Ah, yes, there. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Oh, okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
That’s not going to be easy. Um.
012009SIMON KEYS SYNC
That’s not going to be easy, no. Let me just see if I can see what it is. Did it come from the bush, this way? Yeah. So it’s living in there, yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
And probably saw you and got scared and hid.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Can’t see anything. It goes far underneath.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Got the camera. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Oh, actually, I can see something. Hold on. Um, it’s a long way. It’s a long way underneath. It’s about there. I can see the scales.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Can we do the hook?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Um. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Do you see what it is yet? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
You wouldn’t get, you wouldn’t be able to hook out. It’s just going to push itself backwards. I think it’s a cobra.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
What about the thinner hook? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Indian cobra, I think.
012046	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
[SUBTITLES]
Yes, Indian cobra.	SURYA SYNC
Yes, Indian cobra.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yes, looks like it, the brown. Um. Maybe I can get a stick. You’re not going to get a hook under there. It’s narrow. Jeez.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, no, no, no. Um. I’ll tell you what, that might make it go under more, so don’t, we won’t do that. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
No, more. Breaking it.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, he’s trying to break it? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Shall I get off it then?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Just, just do it, yeah, that’s it, gently. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
I think it’s a cobra, so yeah, it’s a very dangerous snake, very common.
SIMON KEYS INT
The owner wants this snake out of there by any means necessary. If it is a spectacled cobra, then I don’t blame him. It’s a highly venomous snake. 
012118SIMON KEYS SYNC
Just do it little bit by little bit. Maybe, it’s actually moved further back now because you have been banging, yeah. It was about there, but now it’s disappeared. So keep your eyes open it doesn’t come out somewhere else and bite you on the leg or something. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
I know, I’m checking. This bit is pretty sealed. Looks a bit sealed.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, but cobras is not what you wanna get bitten by. Lots of bites by cobras over here, um, and it’s a trip to the hospital at the very least. Yeah, see, he’s gone far.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Can you see him though?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Can’t see it anymore. No, he’s disappeared. He’s probably gone further back. Maybe try and break a little bit more. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
That’s a big chunk.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, that’s a big chunk.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
That’s a good chunk. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
And they, the people don’t mind us doing this, no?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s a bit late now.
SURYA SYNC
The people are okay. They just want the snake away from here. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
All right, okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Wow. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
That’s it. Do that. Let’s have a look. See, the banging will scare the snake. They don’t actually hear as such, but they’ll pick up,
SURYA SYNC
The vibration.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Vibrations, yeah. And there’s a lot of vibration going on down there. 
012215	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Snake CGI of snake’s inner ear structure	SIMON KEYS VO
Snakes don’t have external ears, but they do have inner ears that can detect sounds and vibrations. 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Inner ear	
SIMON KEYS VO
Ground vibrations are transmitted through a snake’s body to a bone connecting the lower jaw and the skull. 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Stapes bone	
SIMON KEYS VO
These vibrational signals are then sent to the middle and inner ear. Right now, this snake is acutely aware that we’re coming for it.
012238SIMON KEYS SYNC
What I’m hoping is it will just be here still and doesn’t go further back. If it goes under the house, who knows? Right, let’s clear all that out of the way. A bit of space here. Clear all this out the way.
SIMON KEYS VO
It’s risky business using my hands like this, especially if this is a cobra, but it’s the only way to move this rubble. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
There he is. Okay. I can see it, but now he’s on the move. Watch out.
	ACT 4	[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
012306SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s going that way. Just wait there. It’s quite a big one, hey. I think so. I guess he’s about a,
SURYA SYNC
Break that last chunk?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
3-foot (1 metre), maybe 4-foot (1.2 metre) snake.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Er, I think leave it for now. Do we want to just clear that?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Wait there. Can you see it? It’s there. See? Put your head right down there, you’ll see. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, it’s right there. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, I know. I want to try and get my hand in there.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
At least she’s there. Watch your hand.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Try and grab it by the tail. Let me try and see if I can get underneath the snake with the hook. Come on, you. No, moving. I wanna get underneath.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, there we go. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Watch the head. Ayayay. Rat snake. No, I see it. It’s not a cobra. It’s a rate snake. It’s a big rat snake, Indian rat snake. 
012351SIMON KEYS VO
Indian rat snakes are often mistaken for spectacled cobras because their colouring is similar. We’ve rescued a good few rat snakes here in India, so even though they’re non-venomous, we know that they’re fast, agile, and powerful. I’m betting on a wrestling match with this one.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, it’s not a cobra. It’s a big rat snake. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So, we’re really lucky, we’re really lucky it’s not a cobra. We can use our hands.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Come on, snakey. Maybe get your arm in there, Sioux. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, I was waiting for that. It bites. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
They do bite. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Sioux, get your hand in there.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT INT
Doesn’t matter which country we’re in, if we’re dealing with a bitey snake, Simon gives me that job. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Get your small hand in there, see if you can, without hurting the snake.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
But which way is it going? Can you see?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
I don’t know. It’s just trying to get to the back of here.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Well, you let go of it, ‘cause then,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, you got it?
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yes, I don’t know. Well, I’ve got the tail. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Have you got it? Okay, I’ll dig it out. Okay. Okay, you take over there. You almost want to just grab it and pull the snake out, but you can’t, because you’ll tear all the scales. Oh, here we go. Get your hand in there. Gently, gently, try and feel it down. I’ll just pull it back. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
It keeps pressing up. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, I know. There we go. Might be a little bit feisty when it comes out, but it can’t kill you, so it’s fine. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Ah-ha-ha!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
A-ha, we got the big snake! There we are. Ay!
012458SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, you’re pulling my, you’re pulling my hair. You’re pulling my hair. Can you get off my hair? Can you get off my hair?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay. Oh, it’s wrapped around your hair. Sioux, it’s not me. It’s the snake. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Right, hold on. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
You got it? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
(bleep). 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Ah, there we are. Well done. Ah, beautiful snake, look. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Wow!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
And we didn’t hurt it at all, look. Thank God. Okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
No. This is gorgeous!
012515SIMON KEYS SYNC
Decent-sized rat snake. Got it? Oh, I can smell. They release a musky smell. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
So, that snake there, what’s that? How big is that? That’s a good,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Watch, you’re twisting it. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
About 6 foot (1.8 metres) long, hey?
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Twisting it. That’s cool, huh? Nice snake. 
SURYA SYNC
So, the people have agreed to, you know, 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay.
SURYA SYNC
Release the snake right over here, because it’s harmless, 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
All right. 
SURYA SYNC
And non-venomous, and it’s gonna control the pests around.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay. All right. Well, maybe we can go over there where it’s a bit clear and just let it go straight back down into the bush.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT INT
It’s so refreshing. We’re learning that people here are really happy to live with snakes as soon as they’re educated about them.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Off you go. Go on. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Off you go. There you go. All right, done. Let’s go. Let’s go and get cleaned up, get back on the road.
012555SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
Here in Mysore, most people respect snakes and are happy to live alongside them. But there are exceptions.
SIMON KEYS INTERVIEW
Some farmers called us, and they’ve got a problem with a big snake on their farm and they need it gone. We’ve driven far away from the city, right into the rural areas. This is where you get big snakes and lots of venomous snakes too.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Can you see it right now? 
FARM WORKER
Yes, it’s there.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
It’s there?
SIMON KEYS
Okay, good. 
FARM WORKER
Come, come. 
SIMON KEYS
Unless we come around it. 
FARM WORKER
Come this side. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
And it’s not moving? 
FARM WORKER
So what you are looking for, the big snake, it’s here.
SIMON KEYS
Okay.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Sorry. 
SIMON KEYS
It’s the Indian python.
012628FARM WORKER
Yes, it’s an Indian python.
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, I see it. Okay. All right. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I see it. 
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, it looks quite big. 
FARM WORKER
It’s a huge one!
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, it looks pretty damn big. If I take a guess, it’s gonna be probably 10 foot (3 metres) at least, maybe a bit bigger. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Wow.
SIMON KEYS
Something like that.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Has it been eating livestock? Have goats and things gone missing?
FARM WORKER
Yes.
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
A snake this size is a danger to goats, dogs and even small children. The farmer wants it gone.
SIMON KEYS
I think the best thing, rather than get under there and try pull it out, because then,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Oh, no, no, no. I think we should start. 
012655SIMON KEYS
That pile’s just gonna come with it, and we might injure the snake. So we can’t risk that. So let’s just take it off bit by bit till we get low enough. If the snake starts to move
FARM WORKER
Sure.
SIMON KEYS
We’ll grab it, and then we’ll get it into one of these bags.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
The fact it’s big,
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
Sounds simple, but you can’t underestimate the strength of this snake.
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Snake CGI of python’s skull and teeth. 	 
	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Indian Rock Python
Recurved teeth	SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
Pythons have more than 100 razor-sharp recurved teeth, designed to stop prey escaping, which cause nasty lacerations that can get infected.
012721SIMON KEYS
Actually, Sioux, you can just keep an eye there, and we’ll start lifting the stuff off. Me and the guys will do it. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I’ve got the easy part.
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
All snakes, even the big ones, like to feel protected.
SIMON KEYS
When you said it was under a pile, I was expecting a pile the size of a house. So this is not actually that bad.
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
The snake is docile at first, but the more we disturb it, the more alert it gets.
FARM WORKER
Is it moving?
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
It’s starting to move already. It’s very aware, obviously.
SIMON KEYS
If it comes out, it comes out.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Hang on, it is actually moving. It is bloody big. The belly scales look huge. 
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, she’s big.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Huge. Oh, it’s really moving. This snake is on the move. It’s very aware of what’s going on. 
And the plan is, wherever she comes out, one of us, probably me, because they’re quite bitey, Simon will tell me to grab it.
SIMON KEYS
I’ll help you. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah. 
012805SIMON KEYS
Just try not to get bitten, ‘cause you could end up with stiches. They’re a powerful animal.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I know. All right, moving a lot! 
SIMON KEYS
Because they grab.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Okay, looks like she’s going up.
SIMON KEYS
Well, if she goes up, she goes up.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Head is there. As I said, she’s going up.
SIMON KEYS
She’s coming out, but she’s trying. Yeah, she’s trying to hide, but okay, just be super careful.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Where is the head?
FARM WORKER
The head is here. Come here, come here, come here. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
The only thing is if I, I can grab that but,
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, you’re gonna pull all the wood. Rather get some more wood off.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Oh, actually, we’re in a good position.
012826SIMON KEYS
Yeah, but wait.
FARM WORKER
She is recently looking at you.
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, she’s looking, but,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
She’s looking at me. I’m looking at her. Right, hold on.
SIMON KEYS
Just gently.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I do want to keep her there.
SIMON KEYS
Oh, well, then just wait. Let’s get some more, make some more room. If she wants to come out, let her come out.
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
This snake is not going to be happy now we’ve uncovered her hiding spot, so we need to make sure we have enough space to deal with her.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
But her head is just there. 
SIMON KEYS
Okay, she’s coming out now. All right. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
That’s a good position for me to secure it.
SIMON KEYS
Go on then. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
But I want to go from behind. I know it doesn’t help, but I know, 
012856 SIMON KEYS
Left one there. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Hold on.
SIMON KEYS
Let me take these loose ones out the way.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
But I wonder how deep. 
SIMON KEYS
That’s it. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Maybe better. Maybe not a good idea. Hold on, hold on, hold on. No, don’t push it. Hello, you. So, hold on, let me, I want that piece because,
SIMON KEYS
Want me to grab that?
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I like securing the head, like so.
SIMON KEYS
All right, darling. Oh!

	ACT 5	COMMERCIAL BREAK
012918SIMON KEYS
All right, darling. He means business. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Oh! Right. 
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
It tries to bite, but Sioux’s ready for it. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Start pulling. Start pulling all the stuff away.
SIMON KEYS
Okay, pull.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Nice and gently.
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, she’s gonna pull backwards now.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah, I’ve got her.
SIMON KEYS
Watch out for the ants’ nest there.
SIMON KEYS
That’s it, you guys.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I’m not gonna start getting bitten.
SIMON KEYS
Okay. All right, snake, two seconds.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT 
Really strong.
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, she will be super strong.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
You guys, can you guys move quicker?
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
Sioux needs to hold on to this snake, but we’ve just disturbed a massive ants; nest.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
And all these ants are biting me.
SIMON KEYS
I know, they will. 
012951CREW
Probably fire ants. 
SIMON KEYS
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I am getting bitten by all these ants.
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, you will. You’ve just put your arm in an ants’ nest. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
The snake’s not the, the snake’s not the problem. It’s the bloody ants.
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
You don’t want to mess with fire ants. Their venomous bites sting like anything!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
No, see, I don’t want to let go of her if she’s bitey.
SIMON KEYS
Okay, well, don’t let her go just yet. Now it’s got you. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
All right, can we feed her through like this?
SIMON KEYS
Give her here. Give her here. I’m gonna take her that way, and you’re gonna hold that. Hold it. That’s it. Okay, now I can take her this way. That’s it. Come on, you. Okeydokey. Okay, I’ve got her. 
013033SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
We’re fighting against 10 feet (3 metres) of pure muscle.
SIMON KEYS
Quickly.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I can’t.
SIMON KEYS
Coming?
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS
Yeah. Now take her that side. Yeah, now pull her up your side. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
No, it’s still that piece of wood.
SIMON KEYS
I know, it’s a pain. I can’t get to it.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Push.
SIMON KEYS
Okay, now feed her back to me. Okay, and a bit more. Don’t let go. I can’t do it yet. Don’t let go yet. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I haven’t. 
SIMON KEYS
I can’t see her head.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah, look, I can do it now. Stop. I can do it from here.
FARM WORKER
Gently. 
SIMON KEYS
Yeah, gently. Where’s her head? Okay.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
There, I’ve done it. 
013105SIMON KEYS
Let go here. Okay, I’ve got her. You got her? I’ve got her. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
I have got her. 
SIMON KEYS
Okay, we’ve all got her. Okay, well done. Got it? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah, I’ve got it.
SIMON KEYS
Okay. Hold the head. You’ve got the head.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Well, you’ve got the head now.
SIMON KEYS
It’s just got me too, but anyway. Sorry, can you unravel her leg? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Oh, bloody ants!
SIMON KEYS
Right, okay, that was a bit of a fight. But well done, all. Okay, do you wanna hold the head? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah, that’s fine. 
SIMON KEYS
And I’ll unravel her. Please?
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll unravel her.
013128SIMON KEYS
Okay, one Indian python. So she’s about, what, 10 foot (3 metres), I think, roughly. All right, snake, calm down. Just doesn’t want to be caught up. Okay, here we are. To get away from the ants a bit will be nice. All right, don’t twist. I think the best thing we can do is get her straight into a bag.
SIMON KEYS
So she’s still got some growing to do. They can easily get up to 15 feet (4.6 metres) in length, sometimes more. She just wants to get away. They’re extremely strong, as you can imagine.
SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
She hunts by constricting her prey, and she’ll take down a goat or a deer, no problem. 
SIMON KEYS
Oh, okay. All right, darling. We’re gonna be out of here, literally. Oh, okay, she doesn’t like the cameraman. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah, hold on. 
SIMON KEYS
Careful. Okay, maybe go up like that. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Thank you. That’s perfect. 
013219SIMON KEYS
That’s it. There we go. Nice one. Thank you. One, two, three. Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
You do it now, because you’ve got it, I think. 
SIMON KEYS
That’s it. There, lovely. Well done, guys. Thanks for,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
No, thank you. That’s lovely. 
SIMON KEYS
Dropping him. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
No, thank you.
SIMON KEYS
Thank you. Well done. Well done. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah, that’s lovely. 
SIMON KEYS
She’s still heavy, 20 kilos (44 lbs), I think. So yeah, okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Yeah. Right, let’s go. Thank you.
SIMON KEYS
Thank you. Take care.

 






SIMON KEYS VO
It’s such a novelty to see all the different snakes here in India. But what really stands out is people’s attitudes towards them. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT INT
One of the big differences between South Africa and India is that people respect snakes. They worship them. That makes a such a difference to our job. Nobody kills snakes. 
013300	
	SIMON KEYS VOICEOVER
And we’ve just found the perfect spot to release the python we caught earlier.
SIMON KEYS
Gets heavy after a while, carrying her. I think this is far enough.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Right here?
SIMON KEYS
In the clearing, yeah, just here. What about here?
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Hm-mm. 
SIMON KEYS
Perfect. Okay. Well, we’ve just driven to a secret location where there’s no farmers, no domestic animals, no houses, no people. And here is a perfect spot for her. There’ll be her natural food here, not domestic animals, and we can let her out and she can go on her merry way and live out her days here. And there’ll be other pythons here for sure, so she can reproduce, which is important as well. So this should be straightforward. 
SIMON KEYS
I do like letting snakes go, especially big pythons like this. It’s fantastic to see them go, and I think she’ll be quite pleased. Her own weight should just slide out. It’s a nice, silky bag. I’ll just let her go that way. Okay. She’s in perfect condition as well, not a blemish on her. Off you go. Go on.
013359
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Go on.
SIMON KEYS
That’s it. Go on, girl. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Oh, in the way. 
SIMON KEYS
There we go. That’s it. Off you go. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT
Goodbye.
SIMON KEYS
Wow. Off she goes. Well, she’s on her merry way, which is great to see. We need to get going as well. So, good luck, snake. Come on then, back to the car.
013417	

 	SIMON KEYS VO
The volume of call-outs is as fast and chaotic as the city itself. Now, a King Cobra is hiding in someone’s house. This one sounds bigger than the last. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So what’s the situation? Do you know? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Sioux, the King Cobra was just passing by through that house, and finally, he’s gone and settled in one of the, the, the cow sheds. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, the cow shed. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
So, you know, it’s five o’clock. These guys are diurnal. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC 
So evenings, somehow, sometimes, they go just sleep in somebody’s house. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Settling down for the night. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Which is not good. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Not great. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Ya, so that’s,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
And today, the weather has been pumping hot. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
It is, it’s really hot. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
The snakes are out, and the King Cobras are out too. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So people here are lovely and calm, aren’t they? They’re not freaking out or,
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
They’re very calm. They’re very calm. So that’s the best part. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So it’s in here. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Wow, dark. Let’s get torches. Don’t think my torch goes on. Oh, it does. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
I’ve got a torch on. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So they say they’ve already seen it. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Right there. Check. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Wow! Okay, hold on. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh yeah. Oh, it’s a good-sized one. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, that’s a big one. 
013516SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
How gorgeous!
SIMON KEYS VO
Every King Cobra we catch is giving us the knowledge we need to do this on our own. So again, Gowri leads the way. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Good size. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Very good size. Bad place. 
SIMON KEYS VO
But it’s too cramped and hot to do it in here. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Would you rather try and take it out? I know there’s people out there for you,
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, it’ll be better to take him out. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Sioux,
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Out there and,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
And deal with it safely. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, this is, this will be too small. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Too small. Of course. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. Yeah, you’re going to run into trouble. 
013541SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yes. 
SIMON KEYS VO
Risks are huge when dealing with Kings, as getting to the closest hospital will take hours. 
	 	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
So can you,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Start taking all this off. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Ya, take that off. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Simon and Siouxsie, can you help us with this? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
We can deal with this. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yep. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, put it on this. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Don’t wanna block us in. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Careful with that. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC 
Sorry. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Keep an eye on the snake there, Sioux.
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yes. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yeah. 
013600SIMON KEYS SYNC
In case it starts moving around. 
SIMON KEYS VO
This King Cobra could be fired up from the heat. Generally, a warm snake is a fast snake. All snakes need external heat to survive, but too much heat makes them uncomfortable, lethargic and puts them in danger of overheating. All the more reason to rescue this one. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So if the snakes in there, 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, I think we, we just clear this one, that’s, that’s fine. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, if that can go out the way, I think we’re all right. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
We’re gonna leave that there, yeah? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC 
Yeah, we’ll leave it there and,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Let me grab my hook, just in case. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Can we check the crowd once. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
So you need to tell people, yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. [Non-English] 
SIMON KEYS VO
The last thing we need is onlookers in trouble. But the crowd happily makes way for the king. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, he’s a big one, hey. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, bigger than the one earlier. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Here, there’s too many people, so I don’t want any accidents here. So I’m, I’m, uh, they’re curious to see how we rescue, right? So I told them I’ll bring it here and capture it, so don’t get, don’t, don’t worry, you will get a chance to see the King Cobra, so. 
013701SIMON KEYS SYNC
Are you going to take the snake out forwards or backwards and see what happens? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
I’ll,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Are you gonna move backwards with it? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Backwards. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yes. Yeah, yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
It’s always by the backward, yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, yeah. 
SIMON KEYS VO
I’m nervous but very excited to continue learning the tricks that’ll help me catch my own wild king soon. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Oh!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Straight away. Gorgeous. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Wow. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
What a size!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s huge. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. Wow. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
That is massive!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
It’s huge!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, it’s a,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Check that thing out. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Size is,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
This is why it gets its name King Cobra. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
A good size, is that. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Look at that! Look at that!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, it is rather impressive. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
That makes the black mamba a little bit tiny. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Tiny, yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Like a house snake. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
And these guys don’t have a hood, right?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, this is something, hey? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Black mambas. I think black mambas are a little unpredictable compared to these guys. But anyway, shall we get him? Yeah? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
That is stunning. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, yeah, go for it. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
You ready? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
I’ve got literally,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Oh, okay, standing up there. Okay, you got it? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Move, move. Move, move. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, yeah. 
013747SIMON KEYS VO
Gowri uses a hook and his hands. This snake is too big and powerful for tongs. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Watch out. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, watch out. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Wow, look at that, look at that. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Watch out. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Move back. 
SIMON KEYS VO
You can never do that with a black mamba. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Keep him distracted. Keep him distracted. Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS VO
While Gowri drags it out, I’ve got to keep the snake’s eyes on me. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yeah, I’ve got everything. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Simon, you’re doing good. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
There we go. 
SIMON KEYS VO
And Sioux gets the trapping bag ready. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay, can, Siouxsie, can you keep the bagger there, uh, pipe.
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Pipe. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Pipe and bag. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Can you? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
I’ll take that. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Pipe, got the pipe. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Put the torches down. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Oh, woah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Here, here, here. 
GOWRI SHANKER/SIMON KEYS SYNC 
Okay!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Here, here, put it here? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
In that, in that wall. Against the wall. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Against the wall. Yeah, exactly. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, that’s it. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
But I can’t put it flat. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
You can use that tile to,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, like this. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay. 
013825SIMON KEYS SYNC
Watch out. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Like that? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Look at this guy. He’s not happy. He’s not happy. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
No, he’s really not actually. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Perfect. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Good? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Like that, yeah. All good. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Good? Shall I bring him there? 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
You happy? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Now I’m gonna take my hook. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Let’s go ‘round the front. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
You want to distract him there? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Bring him all the way. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Let me run ‘round here. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yes! Perfect. 
SIMON KEYS VO
Face to face with the world’s biggest venomous snake!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, big boy, be good. 
	
	GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay. 
013850	Act 6 	COMMERCIAL BREAK
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Big boy, charged up. You’re not happy to be handled. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
No. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
That’s big, hey. 
SIMON KEYS VO
The only way to secure this snake is to guide it into a pipe bag. But that’s easier said than done. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Oh, oh! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Now just concentrate on me. Okay, you stand there. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Oh!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
This one is serious, hey? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
He’s serious. He’s serious. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
About to settle for bed, so it’s woken up. We’ve woken it up. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay, okay. 
SIMON KEYS INT
Gowri’s woken this snake up from its peaceful night’s sleep, and it’s very awake and very angry. It’s opening its mouth, it’s striking, it’s moving forward. He’s got to concentrate on what he’s doing. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
And he’s striking, huh? 
SIMON KEYS/SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC 
Yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Multiple times. Okay. 
SIMON KEYS VO
There’s enough length for the snake to swing around and reach any of us. 
013933SIMON KEYS INT
I think watching Gowri, see how he moves the snake around, using his hook, creating space with the snake away from himself and other people has just give us better insight to how these snakes behave. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
There, there, there.
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. No, no. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, wrong way. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
He wants to go there. Maybe if I stand in that corner, he’ll go away from me. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Maybe if we stand here to make it go in that direction. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. Slowly, yeah? I’ll stand here. And then,
SIMON KEYS VO
Not even Gowri can charm this cobra, these highly intelligent snakes have a mind of their own.
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Go, go, go, go. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh. Oh, yes. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Quite strong. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Wait there. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
He’s not getting to,
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Wait there. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Don’t move. [Non-English]. He doesn’t want to go. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
No. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Maybe, he’s calmed down a little, but he’s not too keen, is he? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
No, he’s just getting his energy back to strike. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yep. 
014021SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, you keep the hook like that in case he comes towards you.
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yeah. Oh. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Go on, go down. In you go. No. He’s not complying. 
SIMON KEYS VO
This isn’t working, so we try place the bag on the other side where the snake wants to go. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Let it go, Simon. Simon? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
That’s the perfect place. He wants to go in that direction. So,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Let’s put it where it wants to go. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
We’ll let him go in that direction. Go ahead, go get the bag. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay. 
SIMON KEYS VO
Watching Gowri stay calm as he works the snake is incredible. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
You think so? 
SIMON KEYS VO
It takes many years of experience to be so in control of a snake this size. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
No. Aw. 
014059GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
You see, Simon, how I’m, I’m controlling him?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
You know, with his own tail, right? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yep. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
That’s how we do it. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Pull him around where you want him. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Pull him ‘round, give him enough. Yes, that’s good. Yes? No. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
No. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Nope. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Yes! Yes!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Oh, yes!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yes, in he goes. Touch that tail. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Go, go, go. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Watch out! Watch out!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Ah!
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
No!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
He’s got the upper hand. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
And he’s not stupid, hey? 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah, he’s not stupid. He’s done this before. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, he’s going. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
No. Oh, hold on, he’s going. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Go, go, go, go, go. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
He’s going back. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Go, go, go, go. Now he’s coming back, I think. But he can’t go because of this. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Can’t go. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yes. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
There you go. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yes. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
That’s it. 
014139SIMON KEYS SYNC
Got it. Keep going, keep going. I’m gonna move my hand out the way once he gets a bit lower. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Mm-hm, mm-hm, mm. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, there you are. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Perfect. He’s there? 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yup, yup, yup. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
He’s there, there, very obviously there. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
He’ll come, he’ll come, he’ll come. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Right, watch out now. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Good, good. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Head’s still here. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, head’s still down. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Watch, watch his head. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Head’s still there. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Watch his head. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Head’s still wriggling this end. Geez. Need a big bag for these boys. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Oh, definitely!
014202SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s an amazing snake. And you could just see how much room you need to work with it. There’s no way you could do it safely in that room, 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Amazing. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Without really being in trouble. So to work outside in an area like this is perfect. But you can still see it’s got its dangers, how many times it was striking at Gowri, it was watch all of us all at once. There’s a lot of commotion going on in the background there. But Gowri knows what he’s doing, got it in there. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
I think this snake made black mambas look like puppy dogs. You know, this was something, hey? 
014228GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Well, you know, this guy is a biter. He’s not, he’s not,
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
He’s, yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
He’s not going to play games. And where it’s going to bite you, unfortunately, is in this area. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Anywhere, yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
In your stomach, in your,
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
The stomach, chest, anywhere. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Anywhere. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
That’s a good size. Look at this. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Amazing. How lovely. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Let’s go. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, great. Well done, you. That was great. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay, awesome. Well done. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Thank you. Thank you, Simon. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
That was exciting. 
014245SIMON KEYS VO
Since it’s breeding season, it’s important to get this male back into the wild. A shaded piece of forest with available water and no people will give this giant the best chance to thrive and add to the King Cobra population. Conservation is the number one goal, after all. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC 
In there. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Sharp. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Looks like this is the best place for him to go. Simon, Siouxsie, what do you think? Here?
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Ah, well, that would be nice, yeah. Perfect. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
It’s lovely. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Perfect place. Cool. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Okay. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
All right. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
So I hope he’ll go in that direction. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yeah, give him lots of room. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
But we never know. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yup. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Have to move out the way. 
SIMON KEYS VO
Like releasing snakes in Africa, there is no guarantee which way they’ll go once free. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Off you go. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
There he goes. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Checking it out. Oh, stunning!
014333	GRAPHICS ON SCREEN
Credits	SIMON KEYS SYNC
Wow. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, hey. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Hey, hey. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Look at that!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Paused for a second, then it’s off. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Oh, look at that. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yeah!
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Hey!
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Do you know, we never get bored of stuff like that. We, we do this on a regular basis. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Ya. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
And you just never get bored, do you? It’s just stunning. It’s just beautiful. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
No! No ways. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s nice, nice to see them go. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Nice to see them go. 
014348SIMON KEYS SYNC
And, and obviously caught it just moments ago, and it’s already back where it belongs. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Back in the wild. How lovely. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Yes. Yeah. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Well done. Brilliant. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
It’s nice. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Good one. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
I love it. Thank you. Well done. Cool. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Yay. Good day. Good day. 
GOWRI SHANKER SYNC
Good day. 
	SIMON KEYS SYNC
All right. 
SIOUXSIE GILLETT SYNC
Excellent. Let’s go. 
SIMON KEYS SYNC
Let’s go. 
END