NEW IND PRESS (Chennai, India) 21 June 06 Its ‘Snake’ time in Bangalore

Bangalore: As its raining out there, reptiles in Garden City are on move. In the last one week the snake rescue cells in city have received more than 100 calls from the residential areas averaging 15-20 calls per day.

The snake experts in city have cautioned that residents could encounter more snakes during the monsoon.

Anees Mohammad, Reptile Conservationist from city said, “Since morning, we have received more than 30 calls and our team has rescued nearly 11 snakes,” he said.

Anees has been rescuing snakes in Bangalore from early 90’s, and has rescued more than 20,000 snakes. “During summer, snakes are out looking for a mate. They intentionally come out in the summer. In rainy season, all the juveniles which were born after this year’s summer occupy the rat burrows. The spectacle cobra and rat snake which cannot live in water come out in search of warmer places,” he said.

“Once the snake is spotted, one should keep a watch on it from a safe distance. Its always better to call an expert than traditional snake charmers,” he added.

People For Animals (PFA) is an organisation that has been undertaking snake and wildlife rescue in city since last 10 years. The four-member team, led by Sharath Babu, works 24/7 on snake rescue calls.

“PFA has rescued more than 31 species of reptiles between 2001 to 2005, with Indian Cobra topping the rescue list,” he said.

“Ninety per cent of snakes found in Bangalore are harmless. We live with four venomous snakes with spectacled cobra being the common one,” he said. Sharath Babu suggested that one should not get stressed and in turn stress the snake.

“In case you are bitten by the snake try to observe the snake. Most of the time it will be harmless bite. Identification of snake is important as the venomous Russel Wiper and Saw Scaled Wiper are haemotoxic which harms blood cells and Cobra and the Krait are neurotoxic, which harm nervous system,” he added.

Call experts: Anees and his team: 9844037424, 9945400002 and 25487424

PFA Squad lead by Sharath Babu: 28603986, 28604767 and 22221188

PFA volunteer Prem Koshi handles snake rescues in and around MG Road. Call 9886036664

Snake rescue calls made to Police and Fire and Emergency Services Department will be passed on to PFA Control Room.
‘Snake’ time in Bangalore

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