Hiss… handle with care

A team from the Ooty-based NGO, Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust, imparted hands-on training to fire fighters and field-level Forest Department officials to rescue a snake.

A fire fighter being given hands on training in techniques of rescuing a snake at the reptile awareness programme held at Tiruchi on Wednesday. Photo: A.Muralitharan

Fire Fighters and personnel of the Tiruchi Forest Department were exposed to the techniques of rescuing snakes safely without hurting the reptile or getting bitten by them.

A team from the Ooty-based NGO, Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust, imparted hands-on training to fire fighters and field-level Forest Department officials here on Wednesday.

Using a hook and a rescue bag mounted on a stainless steel frame, the team members led by its founder N. Sadiq Ali demonstrated the methods to hold a snake without pressing the reptile and the steps to be followed before releasing the reptile from the rescue bag.

“Always use these equipment while embarking on missions to rescue snakes, and don’t try to capture them with open hands,” Mr. Sadiq Ali told the gathering while demonstrating the techniques assisted by his associates.

Mr. Ali and his team embarked on a drive to create awareness about the reptiles in their effort to dispel misgivings, fears, and myths about snakes and the remedial measures to be taken in case of a snake-bite.

The hands-on training was organised to sensitise fire fighters and field-level forest department officials to the techniques of rescuing snakes without hurting the reptile and getting bitten by them, said the District Forest Officer, N.Satish.

The objective behind conducting the programme was to enable fire fighters and forest department staff learn the art of rescuing snakes, he added.

Making a power point presentation earlier, Mr. Sadiq Ali said the tendency continued to prevail among many to kill snakes the moment they were spotted in human habitations.

Snakes do not have any intention to kill humans and are not vengeful reptiles; he said and added that killing them was an offence under the Wildlife Act.

There were 300 species of snakes in India of which only 8 to 10 per cent were dangerous to humans.

The big four — Cobra, Common Krait, Russell Viper, and Saw Scaled Viper — were the ones responsible for most of snake bite-related deaths in the country. Snakes had been in existence for centuries and they too had the right to live just like humans, he said.

Certain species of snakes such as rat snakes were helpful to humans, especially farmers, in keeping rodent population under check, he said. Measures to be carried out during snake bites were highlighted during the presentation.