Good number of students from various colleges participated in the awareness lecture organised at Government Museum here on Tuesday in connection with the ‘World Snakes Day’.
Addressing the meeting attended by students of zoology from various colleges, Albert Rajendran, formerly Professor of Zoology, St. John’s College, Palayamkottai, said India houses 276 snake species including 60 poisonous varieties. While 40 poisonous species are sea snakes, 16 others live in hilly regions and the remaining four live in areas close to human habitations and fields.
“Though Australia houses the highest number of poisonous snakes in the world, the number of snakebite victims stands at only 4 a year in the island nation. However this number is estimated to be around 10,000 in India, which is mainly due to lack of awareness,” Dr. Albert said adding that snakes would bite in a bid to defend only those who would accidentally step-on them or go near them. Good number of specimens of snakes preserved in formalin had been kept at District Government Museum in view of the event, which was presided over by Siva. Sathyavalli, Curator of the museum.
