HYDERABAD, July 28, 2013: The Wildlife Protection Society and several otherorganisations working for animal welfare rescued as many as 20 snakes including seven pythons from snake charmers in the wee hours of Saturday, a fortnight ahead of Nag Panchami.

Authorities, who are taking necessary steps including visiting the major activity hubs of snake charmers and stationing teams at bus stations, said this time the snake charmers, if caught, will be prosecuted. Mahesh Agarwal, special officer, Wildlife Crime Control Board, said, "So far, we have managed to rescue 20 snakes including 7 pythons, three patched sand boas and 10 cobras. They were rescued from Vijayawada highway."

According to Agarwal, the reptiles were being transported to various parts of the state from Srikakulam and West Godavari by a seven-member and a four-member gang of snake charmers respectively. Snake charmers and collectors display the reptiles in public and offer them to people for worshipping for a fee on the day of Nag Panchami that will be observed on August 11 this year.

Wildlife officials said that they started the rescue operations a fortnight before this year so that the snake charmers do not cause harm to the reptiles. "Snake charmers subject snakes to various types of cruelties. Devotees should perform rituals only at temples," said Agarwal.

Rescuers said that snakes cannot digest milk as it is not their natural diet. Milk causes severe dehydration, allergic reactions and dysentery in snakes, at times even causing death. But during Nag Panchami, they are fed milk by the public as part of the rituals. Venomous snakes, including the Indian cobra, are protected under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and catching snakes or causing injury to them is a legal offence punishable under the Act, officials said.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 28, 2013.