Chennai: A snake curled up in a kitchen, a cow trapped in a well, a dog stranded in a drain or a swarm of honeybees hanging over a house — these are the routine emergency calls for Tamil Nadu’s firefighters who now increasingly spend more time rescuing animals than humans. Snakes account for the overwhelming majority of calls.Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS), traditionally associated with fires, road accidents and post-disaster rescue ops, is now handling animal emergencies on a massive scale. Data shows that 1,71,847 animals were rescued against 36,287 human lives saved between 2023 and 2025, nearly five times as many across the state. Officials said animal rescue calls were particularly high in Chennai’s suburbs.Between Jan and Sept this year, TNFRS received 97,279 snake-related calls, averaging more than 350 a day across the state. Snake calls crossed 10,000 in six of the nine months, peaking at 12,444 in September.Apart from snakes, firefighters attended calls involving 5,051 cows, 4,507 dogs, 2,024 cats, 1,496 honeybee swarms, 1,237 goats and 792 birds. Another 1,482 calls involved other animals. Cows and dogs accounted for the highest number of calls after snakes.“The volume of animal calls has necessitated specific skills beyond conventional firefighting. Animal rescues now range from catching snakes and handling bee swarms to pulling cattle from wells or pits and rescuing dogs, cats and birds trapped in difficult-to-reach locations,” said district forest officer Robin Castro.“People increasingly approach firefighters for animal emergencies because of the widespread network of fire stations, quick response times and familiarity with the emergency phone number,” he said. With nearly 400 fire stations functioning, officials said even calls initially made to snake rescue helplines often reach fire stations.Forest officials themselves admit that fire stations spread across urban and rural areas make it easy for residents to send SOS and receive help in double-quick time. The fire service helplines are more popular than that of the forest department. The growing workload has prompted TNFRS to provide specialised training to its personnel. Firefighters undergo practical training in snake identification, safe handling and capture techniques at Guindy Snake Park in coordination with the Forest department.According to forest officials training is particularly important because improper handling can prove fatal to snakes. “Excessive pressure from snake-catching tongs can cause spinal fractures, internal injuries and organ damage. Forceful or prolonged gripping can also restrict breathing and kill the reptile,” he said.Fire stations have been equipped with snake-catching tongs, hooks, protective suits and rescue kits containing boxes and bags to safely secure captured snakes before handing them over to the Forest department.Honeybee rescue is another area requiring specialised skills. With 1,496 calls recorded in nine months, TNFRS has arranged training by specialists and provided protective honeybee suits to fire stations to reduce the risk of stings.Rescuing cattle and pets presents different challenges, particularly when animals fall into wells, pits or drains. Firefighters use ropes, ladders, lifting equipment and protective gear, depending on the location and condition of the trapped animal.While saving human lives remains the department’s foremost responsibility during fires, accidents and disasters, the sharp rise in animal rescue calls has added substantially to firefighters’ daily workload. For many stations, rescuing a snake from a house or a cow from a well is now as routine as responding to a fire alarm.
