MLA Charms voters with a snake show

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NileshBhanage <NileshBhanage

Dec 13, 2007 1:15 PM

MLA Charms

nilesh paws <nilesh

 

Check Out Today's Mumbai Mirror Page – 9.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=article & sectid=2 & contentid=200\

71213200712130228194219b9e8709

 

 

*MLA cha*rms voters with a snake show

 

*600 people queue up at 2-day event in Badlapu**r** o**r**ganised** by Kisan

Katho**r**e**, Amba**r**nath** MLA*

 

*Back to Section Stories

<http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?Page=section & sectname=CITY & sectid=\

2>Posted

On **Thursday, December 13, 2007***

 

 

 

*Yogesh Sadhwani*

 

One of the exhibits at the show

 

 

Displaying live snakes is an offence as per the law, but MLA Kisan Kathore f

rom Ambarnath consitituency couldn't care less. On Wednesday, he flagged off

a two-day snake show in Badlapur. Organised by him at Kathdhare hall in

Badlapur east, the show was a hit with over 600 people queuing up outside

the hall to see the snakes.

 

Thane forest officials confirmed that displaying snakes is punishable

underthe Wildlife P

rotection Act. " We did go to the hall twice to see if the snakes were there.

The banner outside the hall announced the snake show, but we found no snakes

inside. We will initiate action if at all we find the snakes, " said a seniorfo

rest official requesting anonymity.

 

The MLA had roped in local snake lovers to get 12 varieties of snakes at the

venue. Of these, eight were non-poisonous and four were poisonous. A monitorliza

rd and a scorpion were also on display in three tanks set up at the venue.

The snakes included the rat snake, common sandboa, wolf snake, checkered

killback, earth boa, bandaid racer, bamboopit viper, two types of cobras,

Russel's viper and softkilled viper.

 

The function was to be flagged off on Wednesday morning, but due to protests

from local animal rights activists it was postponed to late in the evening.

 

* " Many animal **r**ights activists went to the venue to tell the o**r**

ganise**r**s** to call off the show. Displaying the snakes is nothing but c*

*r**uelty to the poo**r** animals, " said Nilesh Bhanage of Plants and

Animals Welfa**r**e Society. Bhanage said the offence is punishable unde**r*

* Sections 9, 39 and 40 (2) of the Wildlife P**r**otection Act, 1972, and

Section 11 of the P**r**evention of C**r**uelty to Animals Act, 1960.*

 

When Mumbai Mirror confronted Kathore, he said, " Residents of Badlapur do

not know anything about snakes, so we are hosting this show. " He refused to

comment further.

 

 

 

--

Nilesh Bhanage

+91 9820161114

www.pawsasia.org