Mysuru zoo to celebrate World Snake Day

Balasubramaniam, popularly known as ‘Snake’ Shyam, a herpetologist in Mysuru, will give a talk on snakes at the zoo.

Removing people’s fears and illusions about snakes is one of the aims of World Snake Day observed across the world on July 16.

After celebrating World Giraffe Day recently with active participation of visitors, the Mysuru Zoo is now celebrating World Snake Day on July 16. The zoo aims to educate people on snakes and throw light on the most unscientific myths about them.

Balasubramaniam, popularly known as ‘Snake’ Shyam, a herpetologist in Mysuru, will give a talk on snakes at the zoo auditorium at 4 p.m. on the day.

In front of snake enclosures, information boards and fun facts on snakes will be on display from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. The zoo authorities have urged visitors and snake enthusiasts to make use of the opportunity and visit the zoo.

Through a press release here on Saturday, the zoo said there are over 3,000 different varieties of snakes. World Snake Day is observed for the cause of conservation of the sometimes dangerous but mostly misrepresented reptile. Snakes live on every continent except Antarctica and can vary from 32-ft long pythons to tiny vine snakes.

Only about a fourth of all snakes are venomous and all of them would much rather avoid human contact if they could. Maximum snake bite incidents occur when humans inadvertently step on or otherwise disturb the peaceful creatures, the zoo said.

India, with all its typecast of snake charmers, is home to only four venomous snake species but many destructive superstitions and myths about snakes. Conservationists are hoping that the events of the day can help remove people’s fears and illusions about snakes, and help them gain recognition as a marvellous adaptable apex species, the release added.

World Snake Day can be used as a tool to educate and inform the people about how to deal with snakes, whom to call, resources available, and other information.