Bali island, summer 2007. This baby cobra spent nearly 3 months in a well: just in water, rather without any food... Cobra is one of Balinese snakes that helps people to control number of rats and other pests. And, of course, it is one of beloved animals of main Hindu Gods, such like Shiva, Vishnu and other. So it was logical to free this baby as soon as possible. Before to free cobra, I met it's holder - Mr. Ketut Tira from village Pechatu (south Bali, Bukit), who claimed to be some kind of a spiritual person. He said he caught the snake when last came to his yard. Snake approached spot where his children plaid, so that he decided to catch it and keep away. This first part of Pak Tira's story sounded relatively logical to me. However, next, he said: he put snake into deep well. Of course, upon hearing these words (and seeing by myself the miserable condition of a snake) my heart's reaction was: "You see: this water-tank isn't cobra's normal habitat.. Here it can neither eat nor even take good rest. Let's free it, my dear!" He said he already has better plan. He wants release cobra in some beautiful cave - by the ocean side - where he usually meditates with his friends. He then also explained to me that there are many snakes in this cave, and that usually – after catching snakes - he brings and puts them into his well, and, later – after some time – he moves them to the secret cave. Then, he said - his friends catch snakes (from cave) and sell to U.S.A. - for $100 per meter. Such a criminal chain... “$100 per meter!” - he emphasized with big eyes -gessture. He obviously admired “cleverness” of his friends - live souls sellers.
Here I must comment that - according to Hinduism – not only people, but also trees, cows, snakes etc., or, to put it simple – all moving and non-moving objects of Nature, are divine, are holy. Because Hindu texts and genuine Hindu Masters teach that one single consciousness (Soul, or Atma) resides in every being, and not only in humans. The very meaning of word Hindu is (as I’ve recently red in Sai Baba, and later found in other places) FAR (du) from VIOLENCE (hin). In Sanscrit language, far is du. For example: Duryan: a kind of fruits with disgusting smell, so that it is better to stay far from it. Thus, Hindu person is not simply anyone who burns incense, visits temples, goes bare feet and uses white robe etc., but who stays as far as possible from all violence in his/her life. May be cobras deserve even a bit of extra care of Balinese people (who claim to follow Hindu religion), because this snake is associated with our beloved Lord Shiva (please, check out portraits of God Shiva, and you'll see yourself what I mean). After hearing all these cynical words (i.e. - about price per meter etc.), I realized that person in front of me isn't Hindu! Wow! The idea to free the snake by myself came to me. Because, I thought: “Better I free cobra without disclosing place (where it is freed) to Pak Tira and his friends.. Otherwise they’ll try to catch it again and to sell to American illegal traders”. In a couple of days, I prepared myself to go and take cobra from Mr. Tira. (I still believed I’ll be able to convince him to give me snake, because he claimed to be both Hindu and also follower of our Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba. But Sai Baba is very famous for His animals-protecting activities, which He conducted since His childhood. Baba also teaches all spiritual people to eat vegetarian food only...) So, I wanted to take snake in presence of Pak Tira, of course. We tried our best to make an appointment - by calling his two phones: both home-phone and the mobile number. We tried several times during the day, and also later - in the evening, and the next day and evening we tried too. I knew that Pak Tira was an easily accessible person earlier (at least for me), but now - as if due to bad luck – his mobile was always “off”, or - when we called his home - his wife told us that he left “juust a minute ago”. When we thus called him many times, on either 3rd or 4th day of our attempts, we finally got Pak Tira's voice. I was happy. But, alas – the only thing he said is that he must leave immediately. After few days of unsuccessful attempts passed thus, I decided to just go straight to "yogi's" home and try to meet him there. I took two people with me: Ni Kadek and Pak Komang. We came just few minutes after Pak Tira left... "No problem. We have moral right to free the snake": I announced to all present. They all agreed. I then started to assemble tool for catching cobra from well (you can see this in our video). Those present, including Mr. Tira's mother, helped me. While we worked on the tool, Mr. Tira started to call our mobile phone. And he asked my assistant what we’re doing now. But, needless to say: during these minutes we were really busy to talk (I could imagine what can happen if I loose concentration. Cobra could escape from me and bite someone in a house! Of course, we had all reasons not to talk with much during these critical minutes... So we just told him briefly we take the cobra away). Now he called every two minutes, literally screaming that we must wait till some special day, which is more appropriate (according to some special calendar, which he has) for freeing cobras. “That's rediculous!” - you might say.. Well, here we have example of what is called fanaticism: some men, like Mr. Tira, believe that some special days in some calendars are more appropriate for acts of mercy, or, in other terms – for being truly Hindu... Other days, according to this funny belief system, Hindu persons can be like representatives of any other religions, even those that approve harming animals... In this way, our yogi tried hard to influence minds of my companions (via telephone) and to disturb our work.
But in vain. All was done smoothly. I brought Sheshu (as I named this baby snake) far away – in Denpasar - and put him in a warm terrarium - with natural sand and some little stones on the ground. Ah! It was like coming back from hell to Paradise for him.. We all felt happy for Sheshu. We allowed him to take good rest, and, for the first time within months - to eat. We caught live mouse in Mr. Pak Ketut Rai kitchen, and gave it to Sheshu. On the below photo you see how Sheshu is digesting our mouse (these frames are included in video too). See full stomach? Mouse is in! A piece of apple (in a center) served as food for a mouse...
After eating his full, and digesting, Sheshu was brought back to his original habitat - slightly forested area in Bukit, Bali. Kadek accompanied me there. Thousands of businessmen, who work without any moral rules, occupied this place decades ago. As result, not only diverse native trees, but also many interesting animals, including deer, wild pig, tiger, leopard etc. are completely gone. Only very limited number of animal species still occur there (but densities are extremely low). We freed Sheshu 2 km away from the point where he was caught. In fact, it is hunger that forced Sheshu to approach Mr. Tira's kitchen. All cobras usually live in proximity to people. Because people waste lots of organic garbage, which in turn attracts rats.. Subsequently, cobras hunt those rodents, thus helping us - humans. But, alas: fear and aggression obscure understanding and love in modern men. Instead of enjoying long-term benefits that diverse wild animals provide, people tend to create problems to these animals... Rajasic desires, such as to have big house, big car etc. etc. - force them to view everything, including even snake of Lord Shiva, as "commercial objects". This rough mistake is due to lack of understanding. Nature (Prakriti, or Durga, or Parwathi) is wife of Shiva. It cannot be separated from Shiva. Neglecting Nature is equal to neglecting Shiva Himself. If we - people - don't hurt Mother Nature, last, in Her turn, will never hurt us. And even Lord Shiva will become our close mate then. Sai Ram, Sheshu! We did our best for you... Try to survive in bukit, 2 km from village Pechatu, Bali!
