A training programme on snakes organised by the Forest Department in association with the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust (WNCT) at the Cairn Hill here on Monday benefited about 30 National Cadet Corps (NCC) members from the Christ University, Bengaluru.
Passing through the Nilgiris after spending about a week in different parts of Tamil Nadu to study its flora and fauna, the cadets attended the awareness programme on snakes conducted by the WNCT Managing Trustee N. Sadiq Ali.
They were familiarised with various aspects of venomous and non-venomous snakes and their role in maintaining the ecological balance.
Later speaking to The Hindu, their Group Commander Sheeja Begam and Caretaker Padmanabhan said that such programmes were of considerable importance.
Pointing out that usually the cadets were made to participate in adventure related programmes and taught how to handle weapons, they said that nature and allied activities were put on the backburner.
Learning about fauna like snakes would help them significantly as they move up in life. On behalf of the cadets, a sum of Rs. 10,000 was donated to the Trust.