MID DAY (Mumbai, India) 14 August 10 Snake catcher's 'hiss'tory (Rohan Koli)
Today, Nag Panchami, is one of the rare occasions when you may go scouting for a snake to offer it milk. On any other day, you'd rather keep away.
But 17-year-old Anand Mohite from Malad can't even begin to imagine how dull life would be without his slithering "friends".
A Std XII student, Anand has been a snake catcher for nine years now. His rendezvous with snakes started at the age of eight.
That's when he caught his first snake, a common krait, only to learn years later that it is one of the deadliest Indian snakes. Today, his affair with the creatures continue.
I was always fond of catching snakes, but never looked at pursuing it as a profession. After seeing people kill them mercilessly, and learning about their depleting numbers I decided to save snakes," he said.
In 2007, Anand joined SARRP, a body that rescues snakes. "We often get calls from people who spot snakes in their area.
We rush to the spot immediately to rescue the reptile and after giving it medical care, if needed, release it at the National Park," he said.
He added, "So far, I have rescued snakes from over 100 houses. I do not demand money from people who make these calls, but if I go to a far off place then I charge them for travelling."
Anand stresses that snakes are harmless unless threatened. "Snakes may not be man's best friends, but they are harmless if treated properly," he said.
On Nag Panchami, Anand's message is, "I feel terrible when snakes are killed because they accidentally come in people's way. It's a request not to treat them as your enemy, instead just call the nearest snake catcher."
5 ml - The quantity of venom that can be extracted from a snake at a time. After that, one has to wait for a week till the snake generates more venom, which is sold for crores in the drug market
Did you know?
Milk acts like venom for snakes. After drinking milk they do not survive for more than 24 hours
Mumbai holds the world record for the highest snake mortality on a single day
Spotted a snake charmer? Dial PeTA helpline
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) has urged people to look for law-breaking snake charmers and report them to authorities. "Nag Panchami is held in honour of the Serpent God, but snake charming does not pay tribute to these fascinating reptiles; it only tortures them," said PeTA India Campaign Coordinator Madhuri Deshmukh. "We urge the public to show compassion for these tormented reptiles by reporting snake charmers," she said. (( 098201 22602)
Snake catcher's 'hiss'tory