Monday, Jan 19, 2004
Monday, Jan 19, 2004 |
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Bangalore
By Sahana Charan
Attaz, lecturer of Al-Ameen College, holding a water snake near the lake in Palace grounds in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.
BANGALORE, JAN. 18. Water snakes of the Palace grounds lake are facing death, threatened by man and the receding water level. The Chekered Keelback (Xenochropis Piscator), non-venomous snake, which lives in and around ponds, lakes, wells, and waterlogged rice fields. A large number of them used to live in the lake near Mehkri Circle entrance of the Palace grounds. But now only about 50 of them remain, awaiting imminent death, as the lake is slowly drying up and whatever water is left is polluted. Moreover, youngsters who play near the lake, kill snakes and some people even hunt them for their skin, says Ataaz, Zoology Lecturer at Al-Ameen College and an environmentalist concerned with rehabilitating endangered snakes. "Since the water level is receding, a lot of silt has accumulated and the snakes may not have much space to move freely. They come to the surface and near the banks and fall prey to human cruelty," he said. Mr. Ataaz said the lake might dry up in a couple of months. The snakes are yellowish brown in colour and have a distinctive black and white checkered pattern on their back. They have a pointed head and can be identified by two lines under the eyes. The females grow almost up to two metres long. They feed on fish, crabs, and frogs and are seen near the banks of water bodies, especially at night. Many times this snake is mistaken for a cobra. "They live exclusively in water and are very sensitive. The Checkered Keelback may die of dehydration if it is out of water for a long time. It is difficult to take care of as unlike other water snakes, this is very aggressive, though not poisonous," Mr. Ataaz told The Hindu. He and his group of volunteers from the college have been studying the lake's surroundings and have rescued seven Chekered Keelbacks, of which one is pregnant and three are young ones. "We might leave them in a bigger lake like Hebbal Lake or any other water body on the outskirts of the city as it will not be advisable to keep them in captivity," Mr. Ataaz added.
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