More on Snakes

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

check my interview in today's Times of India

 

http://www.timesthaneplus.com/fullStory.asp?articleID=TP1ART0822006

 

Regards,

Nilesh

PAWS

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Snakes go metallic

 

This year on the occasion of Nagpanchmi, various animal rights

organisations kept a watch on whether live snakes were fed milk. Much to

their relief, the snakes used outside the temples were made of metal

 

Yogesh Gupta, Thane

 

For the first time, no snakes were rescued from Thane, Kalva and Mumbra

areas on the occasion of Nagpanchmi, which was on Sunday. The animal

activists from Plant and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Thane kept a watch

on snake charmers at temples on that day.

 

Under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, keeping, hunting,

breeding and selling the skin, and body parts of a snake is an offence.

The offender could be fined or jailed. As a result, snake charmers kept

metal and clay snakes outside temples, the station area and the market

place.

 

PAWS and the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Thane

watched over temples like the Kopineshwar Temple, Thane and the Khidkali

Shiva Temple, Mumbra.

Since 1998, PAWS volunteers have rescued over 100 captive snakes in Thane

with the help of the local wildlife department. Over 21 snakes were

rescued in 1998. These included cobras, rat snakes and pythons.

 

However in 2001, the figure dropped to eight snakes. After seven years of

constant monitoring, the rate of snake charming has reduced from one per

cent to nothing due to increase in awareness amongst people.

 

Every year, snake charmers from North India bring captured snakes during

Nagpanchmi to temples across Thane and allure devotees to offer money and

milk to the snakes. Nilesh Bhangre, Secretary of PAWS informs that the

charmers break the fangs of the snake. He adds that the snakes are kept

thirsty for a month so that they drink the milk offered to them during the

occasion of Nagpanchmi. " Snakes cannot drink milk as pus forms in their

mouth, " he says.

 

Sakshi Rane, a devotee of Lord Shiva claims that she couldn’t spot a snake

charmer at Kopineshwar temple for a couple of hours on Sunday. She said,

" Feeding milk to a snake on this day is considered auspicious. This year,

I fed a metal snake. " Shankarlal another devotee says, " Snake charmers

have had a bad name for the past few years.

 

Hence, my family and I offer the milk around Lord Shiva’s idol. "

 

Anuradha Ramaswami, a member of Thane SPCA says, " Snakes are an important

part of the ecosystem as they control the rat population. " Vishal

Kantharia, a member of PAWS says, " The general awareness is increasing as

we usually get calls when a snake is spotted. However, this year we got no

such call, which is a good sign. "

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