Since June 2, over 60 poisonous and non-poisonous snakes which had entered residences in and around forest areas have been rescued and treated across the suburbs.
It’s not only us who have to bear with flood water during monsoon, but the snakes too suffer from it. Since June 2, over 60 poisonous and non-poisonous snakes which had entered residences in and around forest areas have been rescued and treated across the suburbs.
“Every year, during monsoon, the snakes are forced to leave their pits or holes due to rain water entering their habitat. They escape to the nearest dry areas which are usually buildings, society gardens etc,” said Nilesh Bhagane, founder, Plants and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), an organisation which conducts rescue operations for animals in distress.
Residents staying in areas near Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivli, Kandivli, Aarey Colony, Goregaon, Powai, Thane, Mira-Bhayander make frantic calls to the organisation asking for help. “People try to kill the snakes by beating it on its head. Even the non-poisonous snakes are hit and have to be treated immediately,” said Bhagane.
On Friday, Wild Animal Hospital at Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SNGP), Borivli, treated two injured Rat snakes which were beaten in the mouth. “Both the snakes had grievous injury in their mouth area. We treated them immediately and released them in the jungle. Since the rains started, we have been treating minimum 2 to 3 snakes per day,” said S Jangle, wildlife veterinarian of SGNP.
Rescued snakes include Cobras, Russels Vipers from the poisonous variety. The non-poisonous snakes rescued this week were Rat snakes, Checkered Kill Backs and Sand Boas.
“People hit the snakes as they are ignorant about them. Most snakes that we come across are non-poisonous. A venomous snake has a triangle shaped mouth and their bite can kill. Vine snakes which are green in colour are semi-poisonous and their bite will only cause swelling for two days,” said Bhagane.
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