The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Snakes set free into forest

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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Snakes set free into forest

Special Correspondent

NGO rescues 50 venomous snakes from various parts of city

Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

FREEDOM AT LAST: Zoowatch volunteers releasing cobras into the Neyyar Wildlife sanctuary, near the city, on Friday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The only sound breaking the silence of the forest was the rustle of dry leaves as the first cobra slithered away into the undergrowth.

The second one seemed to be aggressive. Right from the time the handlers singled it out from the tangle of snakes writhing inside the plastic container, it reared up, hissing and spreading its magnificent hood. The cobra refused to budge, despite efforts of Zoowatch volunteers to drive it away. It remained near the edge of the forest, staring as the boat that brought it to freedom chugged away across the water.

As many as 50 venomous snakes, including vipers and cobras and a couple of non- venomous ones, were released into the forests on an island of the Neyyar dam reservoir near here on Friday. The snakes were collected over the last month from various parts of the city and suburban areas by the snake catch and rescue unit of Zoowatch, a city- based non-governmental (NGO).

While the vipers were released deep into the forest, the cobras were let loose near the edge of the water. Zoowatch vice-president Latha Thampi said the organisation received an average of five phone calls every day from panic-stricken citizens who come across snakes in their house or premises.

Seeking to highlight the environmental relevance of snakes, Ms.Thampi explained, “A pair of rats can produce up to 1,000 young ones a year. Consider the amount of grains eaten up by the vermin. By feeding on rodents, snakes help to keep their population under control.”

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