THE HINDU (Chennai, India) 08 March 08 Snakes set free into forest - NGO rescues 50 venomous snakes from various parts of the capital
Thiruvananthapuram: The only sound breaking the silence of the forest was the rustle of dry leaves as the first cobra slithered away into the undergrowth.
The second one seemed to be aggressive. Right from the time the handlers singled it out from the tangle of snakes writhing inside the plastic container, it reared up, hissing and spreading its magnificent hood. The cobra refused to budge, despite efforts of Zoowatch volunteers to drive it away. It remained near the edge of the forest, staring as the boat that brought it to freedom chugged away across the water.
As many as 50 venomous snakes, including vipers and cobras and a couple of non- venomous ones, were released into the forests on an island of the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary near here on Friday. The snakes were collected over the last month from various parts of the city and suburban areas by the snake catch and rescue unit of Zoowatch, a city- based non-governmental organisation (NGO).
While the vipers were released deep into the forest, the cobras were let loose near the edge of the water. A couple of snakes that were moulting, the process by which they shed their skin, were taken to the lake and immersed in the water to cool off before being returned to the forest.
Zoowatch vice-president Latha Thampi said the organisation received an average of five phone calls every day from panic-stricken citizens who come across snakes in their house or premises.
Vava Suresh, the expert snake catcher in the team, is busy shuttling from one place to another in response to frantic calls for help. Mr.Suresh has been bitten about 15 times by various types of venomous snakes. A year ago, he had to be hospitalised for 32 days after being bitten by a cobra. His forefinger remains bent, another casualty of his dangerous profession.
Says Ms.Thampi, “Many citizens are unaware that we can co-exist with snakes. Whenever a snake is spotted, there is a cry to kill it. The truth is that snakes, far from being aggressive or dangerous, are actually the most timid and inoffensive creatures, hiding from noisy neighbours. A snake bites rarely and that too, only in self defence.” Seeking to highlight the environmental relevance of snakes, Ms.Thampi explained, “A pair of rats can produce up to 1,000 young ones a year. Consider the amount of grains eaten up by the vermin. By feeding on rodents, snakes help to keep their population under control. Never harm your friendly neighbourhood snakes. The killing of snakes is a criminal offence under the Wildlife Protection Act.”
NGO rescues 50 venomous snakes from various parts of the capital