47% of snakes rescued in Telangana in 2024 are Spectacled Cobras
2 months, 2 weeks ago

47% of snakes rescued in Telangana in 2024 are Spectacled Cobras

The Hindu  

Friends of Snakes Society rescued 13,028 snakes across Telangana in 2024 with zero snakebite incidents among its volunteer force. The nearly four-fold increase in snake rescues from 3,389 to 13,028 indicates growing awareness among people to conserve snakes and the organization’s expanding capabilities, said Avinash Viswanathan, general secretary of FOS. Common species The common species encountered in 2024 were 6,186 Spectacled Cobras, 3,120 Indian Rat Snakes, 1,386 Checkered Keelback, 574 Russell’s Viper, 422 Common Bronze Back Tree Snake and 112 Indian Rock Python. Mr. Avinash said that the organization’s success in handling such a large number of rescues without any snakebite incidents among its volunteers underscores the effectiveness of its rigorous training programs, methodology and safety protocols, such as implementation of species-specific handling protocols, mandatory safety equipment usage, continuous training and skill assessment of rescue personnel, real-time documentation of rescue parameters along with weather data of the rescue location and GPS-based recording of rescue locations for spatial analysis.

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History of this topic

Serpentarium, first of its kind in the country dedicated to snakebite research, inaugurated in Mysuru district
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Serpentarium, first of its kind in the country dedicated to snakebite research, inaugurated in Mysuru district

The Hindu  

A serpentarium dedicated to snakebite research was inaugurated at Rathnapuri near Hunsur in Mysuru district on Monday. Set up by Liana Trust, under the auspices of the Forest Department of Karnataka, the Serpentarium - dedicated to snakebite research, management, and mitigation - is the first of its kind in the country. Gerard Martin, founder trustee of Liana Trust, told The …

Snake Rescues Surge in Hyderabad This December
3 months, 1 week ago

Snake Rescues Surge in Hyderabad This December

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: Around 520 snakes have been rescued in Hyderabad this December, which is significantly higher than usual, due to colder than usual weather, according to experts. “Cobras in this region mate between late February and mid-March, ensuring hatchlings emerge during the monsoon when food is abundant,” explained Avinash Visvanathan, general secretary, Friends of Snakes Society. To stay safe, experts advise …

Vizag snake saver’s team rescues 35k reptiles in over two decades
4 months ago

Vizag snake saver’s team rescues 35k reptiles in over two decades

New Indian Express  

VISAKHAPATNAM: A 42-year-old snake catcher Rokkam Kiran Kumar, hailing from an agricultural joint family, developed a keen interest in snakes during his childhood. On January 1, 2014, Kiran received an official licence for snake catching from Visakhapatnam Zoo Curator Ramalingeswarao, Chief Forest Officer Barath Kumar, and Chief Conservator of Forest & Chief Wildlife Warden of Andhra Pradesh, AV Joseph. Following …

Snakes slither out to bask in warmth after rains
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Snakes slither out to bask in warmth after rains

The Hindu  

The incessant rain in Telangana has come to a stop. General secretary of Friends of Snakes Society, Avinash Visvanathan says that the society’s volunteers have rescued 278 snakes in & around Hyderabad from August 31 to September 9, 2024. Professor at Department of Zoology, Osmania University & Director, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Studies, Chemela Srinivasulu says there are two …

In Telangana’s Yellapur, 14-feet-long Rattlesnake Rescued From A Local’s Home
7 months ago

In Telangana’s Yellapur, 14-feet-long Rattlesnake Rescued From A Local’s Home

News 18  

In Yellapur, Telangana, locals were thrown into a state of alarm due to the sighting of an unusually large rattlesnake. Faced with this horrific sight, the community called upon Snake Suraj, a famous local who has already rescued 500 snakes. The villagers expressed their relief and gratitude towards Suraj Shetty for addressing their concerns and safely handling the snake during …

Cobra Rescued from Snake Charmers in Shalibanda
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Cobra Rescued from Snake Charmers in Shalibanda

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: In a joint operation 10 days ahead of Naga Panchami, the Greater Hyderabad Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and People for Animals rescued a cobra from snake charmers in Shalibanda early on Tuesday. It an annual feature by animal welfare activists to rescue snakes, especially in and around Shalibanda, Hussaini Alam, Gowlipura, Begum Bazar, Doodh Bowli, Lal …

Over 6,500 snakes rescued from city in the last six months
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Over 6,500 snakes rescued from city in the last six months

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: Over 6,500 snakes, including 4,000 cobras, have been rescued in the last six months in Hyderabad. “We strongly believe that the number of snakes being killed has reduced because people have become aware of what to do without killing them. Approximately, 20 snakes are rescued every day,” said Avinash Viswanathan, general secretary of Friends of Snakes Society. We move …

Increasing snake sightings in Secunderabad’s RK Puram worry residents
2 years ago

Increasing snake sightings in Secunderabad’s RK Puram worry residents

Deccan Chronicle  

Hyderabad: Residents of RK Puram in Secunderabad are a worried lot over increasing snake sightings in the area, with many also reporting home invasions by reptiles. Expert Avinash Visvanathan, the general secretary of Friends of Snakes, an organisation that works to protect and create public awareness about snakes, said he receives about 150-200 calls about snake sightings in the city …

From SA to India: Meet the reality TV show snake rescue couple
2 years, 8 months ago

From SA to India: Meet the reality TV show snake rescue couple

Live Mint  

In the sweltering heat of June in Mysore, Karnataka, Simon Keys and Siouxsie Gillett are busy attending to calls to rescue snakes that may have entered a yard or a home. Incidentally, Season 8 of the show was released earlier this week, where Keys, who describes himself has ‘snake wrangler extraordinaire’ and Gillett, a professional herpetologist and snake handler, are …

App will rush snake rescuers to the spot
3 years, 8 months ago

App will rush snake rescuers to the spot

The Hindu  

Don’t panic if you see a snake at your house or at a public place. The count During this time, 1,075 cobras, 509 Indian rock pythons, 361 rat snakes, and 195 Russell’s vipers were rescued, said Muhammad Anwar, Deputy Director, Forest Training Institute, Arippa, Thiruvananthapuram. Though snakes could be seen at human habitations round the year, their presence is mostly …

India recorded 1.2 million snakebite deaths in the past two decades
4 years, 8 months ago

India recorded 1.2 million snakebite deaths in the past two decades

The Hindu  

India recorded a staggering 1.2 million snakebite deaths in the 20-year period from 2000 to 2019 with an average of 58,000 deaths caused by snakebite annually. The paper titled ‘Trends in snakebite deaths in India from 2000 to 2019 in a nationally representative mortality study’ indicated that most of the envenomation was by Russell’s vipers followed by kraits and cobras. …

6 reptiles, including 2 cobras rescued in last 1 wk in Delhi
6 years, 8 months ago

6 reptiles, including 2 cobras rescued in last 1 wk in Delhi

India Today  

New Delhi, Jul 4 From cobras to monitor lizards, several reptiles have been rescued at various places in the national capital in the last one week, a wildlife NGO today said. A monitor lizard that was spotted inside a company warehouse in Sarita Vihar was rescued on the weekend, the Wildlife SOS said. In a further case of animal in …

Cobra tops list of rescued snakes in city
10 years, 9 months ago

Cobra tops list of rescued snakes in city

The Hindu  

The city of pearls has turned a favourite habitat for one of the world’s most venomous reptiles – the cobra. Going by the sightings and the rescue missions in the city over the last few years, the number of cobras found were more than any other species of snakes, including the non-poisonous ones. Almost 95 per cent of snakes rescued …

King cobra under pressure from habitat loss in Kerala
14 years, 1 month ago

King cobra under pressure from habitat loss in Kerala

The Hindu  

Large-scale deforestation and the disturbances caused by poachers and illicit liquor-brewers could be forcing king cobras to migrate from their natural habitat in bamboo-rich dense evergreen forests to villages nearby. A study conducted by the researchers of the Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, and the Reptile Study Group, Thiruvananthapuram, has revealed that the king cobra, the world's longest venomous …

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