Goa, Dec. 28 -- AMAN VERMA[emailprotected]

Fear often dominates conversations about humans living alongside wildlife-especially snakes, which provoke strong reactions in rural and forest-edge communities. Misunderstandings and misinformation have painted snakes as dangerous predators, often blamed for incidents without full context. Yet, wildlife expert and Goa's renowned snake rescuer, Benhail Antao, demonstrates that coexistence is not only possible but practised. In parts of the Mhadei landscape, around 250 people live close to wildlife habitats, sharing space with animals through awareness and understanding rather than confrontation-a way of life, not just a theoretical concept.

Snakes, Antao explained, communicate differently from ...