THE HINDU (Chennai, India) 25 November 06 Children come face-to-face with live cobra, baby croc
Chennai: When the snake handler took out a four-foot long cobra, a chorus rose from the excited children hanging around at Velammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Mogappair, on Friday.
The thrilling introduction of the slithering reptile to the schoolchildren was part of an awareness programme on reptiles, conducted by authorities of the Chennai Snake Park.
A cobra, a reticulated python, three non-poisonous snakes — green vine snake, checkered keelback and bronze back tree snake — and a baby crocodile, a star-tortoise and a chameleon were brought to the school.
P. Kannan, Environmental Education Officer, Chennai Snake Park, spoke to the children about the four species of poisonous snakes in the State, and said that except those four the rest were non-poisonous ones.
While the poisonous snakes bite their victims with their fangs, the non-poisonous ones use their teeth to bite, he said.
Several myths surround reptiles, particularly snakes. For example, people in rural areas feed milk and eggs to snakes believing that the reptiles would consume them. But, that is not true, Dr. Kannan said.
The park has conducted similar awareness programmes in various government schools in Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, he added.
P. Prabakaran, school principal, said the main objective of the programme was to dispel the myths surrounding reptiles. Students from Standards VI to IX participated in the programme.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/25/stories/2006112515200200.htm
NEW IND PRESS (Chennai, India) 25 November 06 Dispelling myths about reptiles to students
Chennai: Dispelling false belief involves spreading awareness about the correct information. This, when spread among the youth, can help in the fight for conserving the nature.
Going by this principle, the Velammal Matriculation School organised a Reptile Show, a close encounter with the apparently fearsome snakes and crocodile, for the students to understand these animals more.
The students did not shy away from clarifying their doubts regarding reptiles and animals. They shot questions after questions at the Environmental Education Officer of Chennai Snake Park P Kannan about the habitat of cobra, about the preparation of anti-venom, whether the snakes accept milk and eggs offered by devotees and the like.
Kannan answered their queries in detail, showing them the reptiles that were brought to the school. In the exhibition, one cobra and four non-poisonous snakes, one reticulated python and one baby crocodile were exhibited and the details about their habits and habitat were given to the students.
The students were told how harmless these animals are when left undisturbed. The officials told students not to believe the myths that had been told by the elders about snakes.
That the snakes do not take revenge, they do not drink milk and they have no ears. They are scared of human beings and try to escape when encountered. It is only in unavoidable circumstances these reptiles turn violent and counter attack, the students were told.
The students were taught about the initial care to be taken in case of a snake bite. Few students, emboldened by the assurance given by experts, went closer to the reticulated python and even wore it around their neck.
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE920061124231941&Page=9&Title=Chennai&Topic=0&
