THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS (Karachi, Pakistan) 12 October 08 Poisonous snake species being smuggled abroad (Jan Khaskheli)

Karachi: Most of the poisonous snake species are being smuggled to the neighbouring countries, depriving Pakistan of its national wealth – venom, claims Faqeer Mohammed Urs Behrani, the self-styled king of cobra.

The foreign traders offer attractive amounts to the local agents in Pakistan, who hire greedy snake charmers for capturing black cobras, Indian Kraits, vipers and other species and smuggle them, he added. They spend millions of rupees for buying poisonous snakes and utilise the costly venom for manufacturing anti-snake bite vaccines there. This practice is depriving Pakistan of its wealth, while the government agencies are unable to stop this illegal business, he complained.

Behrani, 70, born in the village of Haji Gul Mohammed Behrani, Tando Allahyar District, is a law graduate. He told The News that he was inspired by the reports of the rapid extinction of snake species in the country and joined senior snake charmers to familiarise himself with the dangerous reptiles in 1971. Since then he has experimented with almost all the 56 snake species available in Sindh. These species include those which inhabit in the water, mountains, deserts, plain agricultural lands and forests.

Venoms are rich in hydrolithic enzymes, a complex mix of polypeptides, nucleases, peptidases, etc., which helps digest the snake’s prey. Some of them also enhance or contribute to the toxic effect of the venom. Several cases of snake-bite go unreported. However, the reports published in the local dailies reveal that there are no snake-bite vaccines available in the rural health centres and Taluka headquarter hospitals. Besides, the medicine is quite expensive and the poor cannot afford to buy them in order to save the precious lives of their loved ones. The rural people mostly utilise traditional methodology to treat the patients, which sometimes play havoc with the victimised families.

Earlier, Behrani presented a proposal to the former Chief Minister of Sindh, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim for setting up a venom laboratory at Liaquat University of Medical Science (Lums). Funds were allocated for the project and a 400-acre plot for a cobra farm in Mayani Forest near Hyderabad was identified, but he held the bureaucracy responsible for this project failure, accusing them of being involved in corruption for regarding the import of anti-snake bite vaccines, instead of manufacturing the same in the major medical institute of the province.

He said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government seems unconvinced to implement the Rs200 million ‘Anti snake venom laboratory’ (ASVL) project to avoid deaths due to snake bites in the rural areas. He quoting from reports says that not a single Taluka or district headquarter hospital has anti-snake-bite vaccines to save precious lives. “Who is responsible for this loss of lives?” he asked, adding that had the government implemented this idea those lives could have been saved.

Snakes are falling prey to smuggling, pesticides and deforestation in the country, raising concerns that the days of certain species could be numbered. Behrani urged the government to ban the capture and trading of reptiles. The implementation of the venom laboratory project is the only way to preserve the assets of venom which are being utilised by the foreign countries, he added.

Behrani believes that the deforestation is also causing a decline in the country’s snake population. Some species have not been seen for many years in Sindh. Python, the subcontinent’s biggest snake, has disappeared from the province. Snake charmers kill it on the spot and sell its skin which is widely used for making bags, suitcases, jackets, and shoes, he said. Similarly, he said some of the snake charmers target cobras as they consider them to be the best performers. The reptile is becoming a victim of its own popularity.

He said that the use of pesticides, which is restricted by most of the world, is widespread in the rural parts of Sindh. The insects on which the smaller species rely for food absorb the pesticides, which thus become a part of the food chain and ultimately part of the snakes’ diets.

Behrani claims to have the capability of collecting 10,000 snakes in one month and use its venom to cure the victims to save their lives instantly. Having hundreds of followers all over the province, Behrani said that he has only one motive, which is to utilise his knowledge for the greater cause. However, he slams the reluctance of the government functionaries, which he said are encouraging the snake smugglers.
Poisonous snake species being smuggled abroad

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