NEWSDAY (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) 10 February 08 No snakes allowed (Nadra Nathai-Gyan)
The Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago was called on Ash Wednesday afternoon by its President, Mr Gupte Lutchmedial, in an emergency session to discuss what it terms an issue of serious concern.
This emanates from the use of snakes by a popular mas band in its presentation on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
By now, most persons would have witnessed some masqueraders in the big band “Legacy” with snakes draped around their necks while engaging in their revelry.
The Society came out strongly at the end of the session in an unequivocal condemnation of the use of snakes or any animals for that matter in carnival celebrations.
It is obvious that persons from around the country are concerned too, as the Society has been swamped with calls asking whether the snakes were provided by the Emperor Valley Zoo.
Mr Nirmal Biptah, Ag Curator, has made it quite clear that the Zoo had no part to play in this unsavoury incident and would not condone such a practice. Visiting Head of Live Collections and Research at the National Biodome in Canada, Dr Michel Delorme, who is here in Trinidad to train zookeepers commented: “It is really bad to use animals for any event that does not respect the animals and which places them in distress. We don’t find live animals in carnivals or in the streets; we find them in natural habitats or zoological institutions which have the ability to take care of these animals.”
The Society is now calling on the Authority, which is the Chief Game Warden of the Forestry Division, to conduct an investigation into this matter and take the appropriate action. A source from the Wildlife Section confirmed that the macajuel or boa constrictor, which is the snake in question, is a protected animal and that it is illegal to keep these snakes in captivity or have them displayed without a permit.
The Society was assured that permits are only granted in special circumstances and hardly ever to the man or woman off the street, therefore it is more than likely that the “owners” did not have any permit.
Mr Lutchmedial feels that this is an opportune time to educate the bandleader and persons involved about the disadvantages of this practice.
“Hopefully, by taking action now, we can prevent such an inhumane action from taking place again,” Lutchmedial said.
What makes this practice, which to some may have created a stir and added to the excitement of Carnival, is the fact that snakes are cold-blooded and would be in serious distress from exposure to heat as their body temperature would rise to match the outside environment.
It goes without saying that there was blazing sun on the two days and these snakes would have for most of the day experienced extreme temperatures.
Add this to the pounding vibrations from the music, which they would certainly feel as they cannot hear and one cannot help but be outraged by this incident.
Let us not forget that they are wild creatures first and foremost and even though they might be in captivity, their wildness would remain innate.
Being subjected to outside influences to which they are unaccustomed can lead to erratic behaviour and there is no telling what can happen. The proverbial case of biting the hands that feed you, perhaps.
I caught up with John Seyjagat, Curator of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, who formerly worked as the Head Keeper at our own Zoo and who is also here to train the Zookeepers in animal husbandry, snake management, venom training and wildlife nutrition.
He was quick to endorse the views expressed by the Society.
“Snakes respond to vibration and to subject them all day to vibrations is totally unnatural. When you consider that snakes are secretive and would prefer to find solace and security in undergrowth, logs and other shade areas, to subject them to open sunlight and exposure is cruel punishment.”
He called for naturalists and environmental groups to outrightly condemn such abuse of animals. What is quite telling is John’s observation that animal rights and advocacy groups everywhere in the world would be aghast at this practice.
Also, Mr Lutchmedial would like persons to pay heed to concerns expressed and hope that this alert would put a stop to any future plans to use animals in our Carnival. “This year it is snakes, what next?” he queried.
No snakes allowed