THE HINDU (Chennai, India) 18 December 08 Drive to protect ‘medicinal’ snake (R. Rajaram)
Tiruchi: The Forest Department has planned to launch a drive to protect Sand Boa, an endangered snake with supposed medicinal properties, which is being hunted down in various places in the State.
The department will shortly distribute notices, containing the photograph of the Sand Boa, seeking public cooperation in protecting the species besides informing the Forest officials about those involved in hunting of and trading in the snake. The reptile is popularly known in Tamil as ‘Iruthalai/Manuli/monnai Paambu’ with its zoological name being ‘Eryx johnii.’
The notices will be distributed in Manapparai, Thuvarankurichi and surrounding areas where the snake has been spotted. Forest department officials say that some persons had been making discreet enquiries about sale of the snake in the region.
The department officials would circulate the notices in these places during weekly ‘shandies’ where a large number of people assembled, besides distributing them to local body representatives, District Forest Officer D. Mani told The Hindu.
Drive to protect ‘medicinal’ snake