Spike in snake sightings across Pune; Maval emerges as hotspot

The early arrival of the monsoon coupled with heavy rainfall and habitat disruption has led to a sharp rise in snake sightings across Pune and its rural outskirts, particularly in Maval.

- Gayatri Vajpeyee

PUNE: While snake-related calls have risen from 45 in the first half of 2024 to 53 in the corresponding period of 2025—an increase of approximately 17.78%—according to Pune fire department data; Maval has emerged as a major hotspot.

Vanyajeev Rakshak Maval, a wildlife NGO that works particularly in Maval, reported 11 snake rescues—mostly pythons—in June 2025 alone compared to just seven to eight in the whole of 2024.

The group attributes this spike to water entering natural habitats and ongoing construction on agricultural land, both of which are forcing snakes into/closer to human settlements.