CHENNAI : In the midst of several high profile events to commemorate the World Environment Day, the Principal Conservator of Forests Sukhdev had a more down-to-earth message for the residents of the city.

He urged them to keep their surroundings clean and garbage-free to keep snakes away. For the past few months, the Forest Range Officer has been receiving approximately 200 calls a month from residents troubled by snakes in the city.

"Snakes will come to your house only if there are rodents to hunt. And rodents multiply when there is garbage or thick bushes growing around," said Dr. Sukhdev.

He advised people to dispose garbage in bins and keep the bins closed. "If you keep waste in the open and allow it to decompose, the smell will definitely draw rodents," he said.

At the Rescue Centre in Velachery, Forest Range Officer Satyan Murthy is unable to cope with the snakes caught every day. There are only a few staff members available to attend to the complaints pouring in from various parts of the city. "I received 30 calls yesterday. At our centre, we have caught about 1,000 snakes in the past year. Managing these rescued reptiles is an arduous task. They have been released into nearby forests from time to time."

While most of the snakes rescued from the city were either rat snakes or water snakes that are harmless, the suburbs had a considerable population of poisonous snakes, mainly cobras. But cases of snakebite are rare, he said.

It is advisable to stay away from thick bushes in dimly lit areas or allow garbage to accumulate in the neighbourhood. "Most people who do not know about our rescue services kill these snakes. Why not keep the snakes away by just staying clean?" he said.

The number to call if you have a problem with snakes is 22200335.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail