Palpa, Aug. 16 -- year-old Sagar Pandey of Argali Ranghuwa in ward 14 of Tansen Municipality4, a ringing mobile phone often means only one thing: someone has spotted a snake.

Whenever a snake turns up in or around a house, people call Pandey. Even the Division Forest Office seeks his help when it needs a snake rescued.

For the past 18 years, Pandey has been rescuing snakes and releasing them safely back into the wild. He estimates that he has rescued more than 10,000 snakes so far, travelling across Palpa and to neighbouring districts including Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Baglung, Kaski, Parbat and Myagdi.

"Catching snakes is hardly an easy job," he said. "But I have been interested in snakes since I was a child, so I don't feel much...