Bengaluru: While snakes often evoke fear among many people, 28-year-old Yashas Bharadwaj has spent most of his life encouraging people to replace fear with understanding. A wildlife rescuer, field herpetologist and nature educator, Yashas has quietly devoted more than two decades to rescuing snakes and other wildlife while spreading awareness about biodiversity and conservation.
His journey began at the age of five when he accompanied his father, Simhadri M N, a veteran wildlife enthusiast who played a key role in Karnataka’s early tiger census projects and the establishment of the BBMP Forest Cell in 2005.
From childhood rescues to wildlife conservation
Yashas carried out his first snake rescue in his South Bengaluru neighbourhood as a child, an experience that inspired a lifelong commitment to wildlife rescue.
While he now manages his family’s power tools business, much of his time is devoted to rescuing injured wildlife, documenting biodiversity, conducting environmental awareness programmes and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts.
Between 2005 and 2010, Yashas and his father regularly rescued birds, snakes, squirrels and owls injured due to rapid urbanisation. Animals requiring medical care were rehabilitated before being released wherever possible.
He has also rescued exotic and protected animals, including green iguanas, blackbuck fawns and exotic pigs. Yashas points out that invasive exotic species cannot be released into the wild as they can disrupt local ecosystems.
Research, rescue and education
Yashas spent eight years working on research projects with organisations including the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). His work involved studying reptiles, mammals and butterflies while assisting wildlife veterinarians and rehabilitation teams.
He later spent nearly a decade studying reptiles, particularly snakes, in the Western Ghats and contributed to World Health Organization-supported projects on snakebite awareness.
According to Yashas, many snakebite deaths occur because of poor awareness, delayed treatment and fear rather than the bite itself. He believes education is key to reducing unnecessary panic and saving lives.
Inspiring Bengaluru to reconnect with nature
To make conservation easier to understand, Yashas completed a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and now conducts free biodiversity sessions for students from government schools, orphanages and low-income communities.
Every Sunday, he leads nature walks at Bangalore University’s Jnanabharathi campus, introducing participants to local flora and fauna. He also works with schools through experiential learning programmes aligned with the National Education Policy and Karnataka State Education Policy.
Besides conducting awareness programmes, Yashas continues to respond to snake rescue calls, assist in resolving human-wildlife conflicts and help connect snakebite victims with timely anti-venom treatment.
Through his work, he hopes to replace fear with knowledge and inspire more people to protect the wildlife that shares Bengaluru’s rapidly changing landscape.