M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Sept 16: The South division of the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) has taken up a new journey in conservation of snakes as it rescue around two snakes per week. PTR has a good number of both venomous and non-venomous snakes.
The snake rescue serves dual purpose. Firstly, it saves the reptile from getting killed by humans and secondly, it assures the residents, from where the snake is rescued, that they are safe and they avoid to get into a panic mode in such a situation.
This summer, PTR faced more than 200 incidents of forest fires. Despite of it, snakes have been appearing near houses during the rainy season.
Mukesh Kumar, deputy director South division of PTR said, “Our forest guards are doing double jobs. They first rescue snakes and thereby bring in relief and comfort to the house inmates who discover snake in house and feel nervous and fearful about it.”
Notably, the job of rescue of snakes and relief to the family goes together, Mukesh Kumar reminded. “Our boys are getting good will and appreciation from the common people,” said Mukesh.
Moreover, People are becoming conscious not to kill snakes until it harms the individual. All they want is snakes be taken out of their dwellings and when they feel helpless or find no help, they choose the course of killing the snake.
Kumar said we have some good snake rescuers who work quite sincerely and rush to the caller asking them to keep patience and not to get into any panic mode. These forest guards turned snake rescuers are advised to wear shoes, gloves and to keep snake catching stick, tongs and bags. Torches are a must at night.
Kumar added that they have five sets of snake catching equipment in the South division. It is being used by the team on urgent call from people or where their own men find snake in trouble.
Subodh Kumar, one of the forest guards, has to his credit many episodes of rescuing venomous and non-venomous snakes.
Subodh said he was in Mundoo as a forest guard for 3 years and out there, slithering of snakes were very common. He said he and his team saved many of the snakes and the house inmates. The rescued snakes are released away from the human habitation, in the suitable jungles.
A girl named Jyoti in Daltonganj has rescued a good number of snakes in the area. She and her team rescued a cobra in a village well last year. Once the cobra came up on the ground, it raised its hood as if it was thanking the team of the rescuers which got it out of the well and rushed to the nearby jungle.
There was once a snake which was found inside the bonnet of a luxury car in Daltonganj.
