Surrounded by the Western Ghats’ mountains and lush rainforest, Agumbe is often called the ‘Cobra Capital of south India’. It is home to the highest population of King Cobras—the world’s longest venomous snake. Ajay of Agumbe and the Signal Snake follows a day in the life of Ajay Giri, who has spent decades researching, rescuing, and rehabilitating these extraordinary reptiles. Ajay is the Director of the Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, founded by Romulus Whitaker, and run by the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust.
For Ajay, the rainforests of Agumbe are both home and a research ground. He begins his day before dawn, when the forest stirs awake. With an antenna in one hand and a notebook under his arm, he listens intently—his ears often sharper than his eyes. He notes the draco gliding past, the Malabar whistling thrush calling, and most importantly, the faint radio signal that guides him to the King Cobra he has tracked for years. Once he locates it, Ajay quietly records every movement. Perhaps the cobra, now accustomed to his presence, recognizes him too and continues its life undisturbed. For Ajay, the forest is never silent—it is a living manuscript; one he studies with patience and awe.
Through verse, Whitaker tells this remarkable story of Ajay’s relationship with one of the most feared creatures on the planet. His respect, resilience, and dedication shine through, offering children a window into the lives of conservationists who work quietly, tirelessly, and often unseen in our forests. The book also highlights Ajay’s community work—teaching people to respect and coexist with snakes—and introduces young readers to the science of telemetry, a vital tool that allows researchers to study animals in their natural habitats without intrusion.
The rainforest comes alive through Rajiv Eipe’s illustrations, rendered with richness and depth through a combination of sketches, water colours, and soft pastels. His King Cobra, particularly in the dramatic middle spread, seems to leap off the page. His play of light and shadow brings texture to the forest, capturing its mood and mystery.
At its heart, Ajay of Agumbe and the Signal Snake is not just the story of a man and a cobra, but of the delicate balance between humans and the wild. It invites children to step into the rainforest, to listen closely, and to discover that even the most feared creatures have a place in our shared world.
Ragini Lalit