GUIDELINES  OF  SNAKE MILKING FOR   ANTI VENOM PRODUCTION IN INDIA

GUIDELINES  OF  SNAKE MILKING FOR   ANTI VENOM PRODUCTION IN INDIA

The morbidity and mortality associated with snakebites is a serious public health problem in many regions of the world, particularly in rural areas lacking medical facilities. Snake bite is a public health hazard in India. In India on an average 250000 snake bites are recorded in single year.There are more than 2000 species of snakes in the world, and about 216 species in India, of which 52 are venomous .The snakes found in India show great biodiversity and their length varies from 6 mm to 10 mm, while weight ranges between few grams to several kilograms. The most appropriate therapy for envenoming is timely administration of the species-appropriate anti snake venom. The entire initial dose should be given as soon as possible and preferably within 4 hours of the bite. The key to management of venomous snakebite is the administration of specific anti snake venom or polyvalent anti snake venom. Based on their morphological characteristics including arrangement of scales, dentition, osteology, mycology, sensory organs etc. snakes are characterized into families :- • Elapidae : Cobras , kraits, Coral snake • Viperidae :Russel‟s Viper , Saw scaled viper • Hydrophidae :Sea snake • Colubridae :African Boom slang and twig snake Identification of poisonous and non-poisonous snake :- Poisonous snakes generally possessthe characters like – Vertically elliptical shaped cat like pupil. • A small depression (termed pit) between the eyes and nostrils. • Triangle shaped head e.g. Copperheads and rattle snakes, exception- Elapids. • Underside scales of tail go completely all the way across in a single row from the anal plate; the very tip of the tail may possess two scale rows. • Head and body both are seen during swimming time. • Generally of multiple colors. Non-poisonous snakes generally possess the characters like – Round pupil in the centre of eye. • ‟U‟ shaped head. • Two rows of scales from the vent to the tail end. • Only head is seen during swimming time. • Generally of one colour. • Mostly strips are from head to tail

Venom production In India, all snakes are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act and as such, snakes cannot be collected or venom extracted without the permission of the state wildlife authorities11. There is no scientific study that adequately quantifies snake abundance (though the export of up to 10 million snake skins per year in the 1960s gives some indication), which has resulted in a conservative stance by the wildlife authorities in some states and a general reluctance to permit capture of large numbers of snakes for venom extraction to produce AVS.

Case study A – the Irula Snake Catchers Industrial Cooperative Society The Irula Snake Catchers Industrial Cooperative Society (ISCICS), which operates in two districts of Tamil Nadu totalling 7,850 sq. km, is a tribal self-help project set up in 1978 (ref. 12). The Society is licensed by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to capture an average of 8,000 snakes per year of the four most medically important species, the ‘big four’. Snakes are kept in captivity for 3–4 weeks and venom extracted four times from each snake. Snakes are then released back to the wild. Table 1 gives the average annual sales made by the society for the period 2000–2009 for antivenom production. The number of snakes permitted to be caught under the state forest department license determines the relative quantities of venom produced. This has resulted in a perennial surfeit of cobra and Russell’s viper venom, hence the Irula Cooperative stipulates that buyers must purchase venom in a ratio of 5 : 5 : 1 : 1 (Naja : Daboia : Bungarus: Echis). For buyers who wish to purchase only krait or saw-scaled viper venom, the price is an astronomical US$ 3888 per gram. Antivenom producers have expressed concern over the high venom prices (see Table 2) and purchase of Irula Cooperative venoms dropped considerably in 2010 (ref. 14). New methods of immunization require much less venom to produce the same results which will of course reduce demand even further . In comparison, prices for Indian snake venoms produced in the USA are US$ 150 per gram for spectacled cobra, US$ 600 for Russell’s viper and US$ 400 for saw-scaled viper (Kentucky Reptile Zoo). The Irula Cooperative now produces a major portion (an estimated 80%) of India’s venom needs (for the production of antivenom) from snakes found within two districts of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, it would be advantageous to expand the scope of the cooperative activities to other parts of the country by becoming a multi-state cooperative in order to include other snake catching communities under its wing. This will benefit both marginalized snake catchers as well as being a big step forward in dealing with the complex and life-threatening problem of regional venom variation and address the possibility of other species of snakes being medically important. However, it is to be noted that the standards of venom production and protocols of the cooperative have considerable scope for improvement in conformity with WHO guidelines.

Case study B – N.S. and Associates, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh This is a small venom production unit started in 2004, with the capacity to keep 100 to 150 snakes. The snakes

(only Naja naja and Daboia russelii) are caught locally in houses and gardens in response to villagers’ requests. Till 2008, a total of 295 ml of N. naja and 51 ml of D. russelii liquid venom had been sold to an antivenom manufacturer. There are several other producers of snake venom in India, but the status of their legality is questionable and some reportedly supply liquid or ‘light-bulb dried’ venom to antivenom producers. The WHO protocol for venom standards and production for the manufacture of antivenom is unfortunately, not yet implemented in India. In 2009, the Maharashtra State Forest Department announced plans, via a press release, to set up a Snake Venom Research and Extraction Centre in Nashik, utilizing the snakes caught by ‘snake rescuers’, often attached to local animal welfare bodies. The current status of this initiative is unknown, but considering the popularity of snake rescue in many parts of India, this is an obvious potential source of snakes for venom production.

Production of antivenom

In an effort to quantify total antivenom production capacity in India, along with projected production estimates of Indian antivenom producers, a simple questionnaire was sent, via e-mail, to all these producers, with follow-up phone calls required for most respondents. There are currently at least seven laboratories in India which produce snake antivenom; Table 3 shows their stated projected production estimates for 2011/2012. Antivenom production statistics from the Indian Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (ICBHI) for the years 2008–2009 are shown in Table 4 (ref. 17). These statistics when compared with the results of the authorconducted survey, suggest that installed capacity for the production of AVS has increased by at least 260% over a period of 3 years. This figure, however, does not accurately quantify the actual situation, as data is missing from both the data sets. This further illustrates the need for a standardized, data collection, collation and display system to process all data related to the production and use of antivenom. Earlier production estimates (2001–2004) are also published by ICBHI18. These figures, as originally published, are somewhat difficult to interpret as different units have been used, sometimes within individual data sets. For ease of representation, they have all been converted into the same units and are presented in this paper as thousands of vials (10 ml vials are standard antivenom doses in India) as in Table 5. The installed production capacity of antivenom producers in India appears to have dropped by nearly 300% from 2001 to 2008; following this, there has been an increase of at least 260% in installed capacities from 2009 to 2011. Reasons for the decline include the fact that the Serum Institute of India, one of the biggest producers, stopped production for many years. The subsequent increase in production from 2009 to 2011 could be explained by several factors, including the emergence of new producers (for e.g., Mediclone Biotech, Chennai), and an increase in production capacity by others – most notably Bharat Serums and Vaccines, whose installed capacity increased almost four-fold from 400,000 vials in 2001, to 1,500,000 vials in 2010. Two antivenom producers have recently stopped production. • Serum Institute of India, Pune – Polyvalent for ‘big four’, lyophilized, average annual production >100,000 vials. Also lyophilized polyvalent for two species of African snakes combined (for reasons unknown) with Indian Daboia and Echis. Production of antivenom was stopped in 2008, reportedly in view of the stringent conditions which were implemented by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (India) CPCSEA. Venom source (India): Irula Cooperative. • Central Research Institute, Kasauli (Government of India) – Polyvalent for ‘big four’, lyophilized, average annual production was 25,000 vials. Production discontinued on 2007. Venom source: Irula Cooperative. All Indian antivenom labs produce polyvalent serum of equine origin against the four most common and widely distributed medically important Indian snake species, referred to for brevity as the ‘big four’. It has been observed that 2010 prices for a 10 ml vial of Indian polyvalent AVS range from about INR 300 to 500 (US$ 6.50– 11.00), which is a fraction of the cost of a vial of CroFab antivenom in the USA (at over US$ 1900 per vial) or CSL antivenom in Australia (at US$ 1500 per vial.

AVS is supplied by Indian antivenom producers to government hospitals at Rs 115 per vial (US$ 2.50)15. Some labs produce both liquid and lyophilized sera and some have produced bivalent sera in the past. While this relatively low cost makes Indian antivenom more accessible, it does have certain inherent problems, which are dealt with under a separate heading below.

Venom and antivenom requirements for India

It will be advantageous to ascertain exactly how much venom is required to produce an adequate quantity of antivenom for India in order that venom supply permits and protocols can be worked out. Based on a production breakdown provided by an antivenom producer (though subject to considerable variability depending on the immunization procedures used and other factors), production of 10,000 vials of antivenom requires approximately 2 g each of N. naja and D. russelii venom and 0.2 g each of Bungarus caeruleus and Echis carinatus venom21. Production of 2,000,000 vials (estimated output for 2011/2012 based on responses from antivenom producers) would therefore require an annual production of at least 400 g each of N. naja and D. russelii venom and 40 g each of B. caeruleus and E. carinatus venom (see the next section). Using these estimates, it is inferred that the Irula Cooperative supplies only about half of India’s N. naja and D. russelii venom requirements, but almost all of its B. caeruleus and E. carinatus venom requirements. However, it must be noted that there was considerable variability in estimates provided by two other antivenom producers: the second data set indicates that the production of 2,000,000 vials would require 2,260 g of N. naja, 1,508 g of D. russelii and 300 g each of E. carinatus and B. caeruleus venoms22. The third dataset indicates that the production of 2,000,000 vials of antivenom would require 250 g of N. naja and D. russelii venom with 76 g each of B. caeruleus and E. carinatus venom23. Efforts to trace the rest of the venom supply in India have yielded minimal information. A recent, state by state estimate of AVS requirements in India totals 1,200,500 vials24. Further refinement of the estimated needs will help both venom and antivenom producers fulfil India’s actual requirements. ICBHI estimates antivenom ‘demand’ (it is unclear as to whether this can be equated to ‘requirements’) for India to be just 110,000 doses for 2007–08 and 128,133 doses for 2008–09 (ref. 17). This is an entire order of magnitude lower than the estimates made by antivenom producers. We see the need, again, based on these figures, for standard methods of reporting production, demand (requirements) and supply details for all antivenom producers and purchasers.

Indian antivenom producers have to upgrade their production protocols that have not changed much since the 1950s. For example, an Australian antivenom producer uses 2 mg of taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) venom to yield the equivalent of 1,600 10 ml vials of antivenom from horses. This means that 2 million vials could be produced by their methodology using a mere 2.5 g of venom! Irula Cooperative statistics13 using their standard average of four venom extractions from each snake while it is in captivity for 3–4 weeks, have been compared to antivenom production statistics of two producers. Tables 6 and 7 show the approximate number of snakes required to produce 1 g of venom (lower estimate of all three antivenom production data sets).

Issues related to Indian antivenoms

Several studies have demonstrated regional variation in D. russelii venom. A study shows that D. russelii venom from northern and western parts of India was twice as toxic as venom samples from the south. Antivenom prepared from venum from south India failed to protect experimental animals against venom from D. russelii of other parts of India26. Similarly, N. naja venom from the eastern part of India was more lethal than that of western and northern forms and available antivenom (made mainly with venom sourced from the south) could not neutralize venoms from the eastern and northern parts of the country. Other studies showed significant variation in the composition of D. russelii and N. naja venoms. Inadequate attention to these long-understood geographic variations in venoms is one of the reasons for the increasingly common reports from clinicians about the ineffectiveness of commercially available antivenoms. Other issues include the sourcing of venom from unlicensed producers, misleading/outdated medical information in the instruction leaflets, noncompliance with WHO standards and protocols for venom and antivenom production. The export/sale of India-specific antivenoms to other countries including Cambodia, Nigeria and Papua New Guinea is another serious issue raised in various national and international fora regarding antivenom production in India. The quality and potency of South Asian antivenoms have been largely unchanged for more than 55 years36. A review of the situation highlights the fact that poor manufacturing standards persist, and products have minimal efficacy and unacceptably high adverse reaction rates. There is, therefore, an urgent need for regional partners to come together, perhaps with external collaboration, to develop a robust, potent, high quality pan-Asian polyvalent antivenom that provides broad coverage against the venoms of the major venomous species throughout the region. The WHO has recently published Guidelines for the Production, Regulation and Control of Snake Antivenom Immunoglobulins, and produced a complementary website with a number of resources. As one author puts it, ‘a new antivenom for South Asia that meets these rigorous standards, could fulfil the needs of all governments across the region, and at the same time significantly improve patient outcomes, while substantially reducing treatment costs’. The current antivenom potency requirements (set by Indian Government regulators in the 1950s) of 0.45– 0.6 mg/ml are woefully inadequate, given the venom yields of most of the species responsible for envenoming35. While it is true that India produces the cheapest antivenom in the world (averaging US$ 10 per vial, retail), simple calculation shows that treatment can actually be very expensive. For example, the range of venom yields for cobras reported in one study was 58–742 mg (ref. 38), which translates to a need for 13–165 vials (a treatment cost of US$ 130–1,650 or INR 6,500–82,500). To corroborate this, one study in northern India reported the median number of vials used for bites by elapid snakes (kraits and cobras) as 90, for a treatment cost of US$ 900 or INR 45,000 (ref. 39). As venom yields measured during venom extraction may far exceed the average (but always unknown) quantity of venom injected in a defensive bite, it is obviously vital that antivenom potency must be adequate (and affordable) for a ‘worst case’ scenario. In addition to this disparity in venom yields, variations in venom composition and yield geographically and with sub-species of the ‘big four’ are understudied phenomena, which have significant implications for snakebite treatment. There are at least four medically significant species of Bungarus (kraits), viz. B. caerulus, B. sindanus, B. niger and B. walli, two of Naja sps., viz. N. kouthia and N. oxiana and one sub-species of Echis, E. carinatus sochureki37. We are currently looking at structural differences between these venoms and aim to determine ED50 (effective neutralizing dose of antivenom) of Indian antivenom against these and other species of possible medical significance. Table 8 illustrates venom yields from the first extractions conducted by the Centre for Herpetology as part of a collaborative effort to quantify structural differences in venom composition geographically. These average venom yields indicate that, although antivenom is not made specifically for these species/ variants, all of them (with the exception of P. macrolepis and T. malabaricus, for which there are no recorded fatalities) can inject potentially lethal quantities of venom.

Manufacture of snake antivenom :-

Internationally, antivenins must confirm to the standards of pharmacopoeia and the World Health Organization (WHO). The basic protocol for anti-venom production includes following steps Milking the venom :- 1. The first step involves transferring of the captive or quarantine snake into a clean milking room. 2. Next the snake is grabbed with the thumb and the index finger at the very back of its head, where the venom glands reside and the venom glands are pressed to ejaculate the venom through a plastic or rubber film into the vial (glass ware ) . Cooling Down and Labeling :- 1. After milking the venom, the venom is cooled to below -20o C and freeze dried (lyophilized) for easier storage and transport. This will concentrate the venom and remove the water. 2. Labeling of the venom from one particular species should be done because the antivenom produced from particular venom is specific for it 3. It also prevents from being mixed with the anti-venom produced from the sub species of the same species. 4. The label should contain the following information: Specificity of antivenom, plasma unit number and date of collection. Choosing an Animal for Immunization :- Immunization is the process by which an individual‟s immune system becomes fortified against an agent (immunogen). Generally, horse is the preferred animal: • They thrive in many environment worldwide • They have a large body mass • They have long lives • Comparatively big veins and friendlier • Easy to handle Immunizing :- 1. A particular amount of venom along with distilled water, buffer solution (0.2 M Tri HCl) and adjuvant (a substance which enhances immune response e.g. Nanostructured silica, cobalt-60) is measured and injected into the horse. 2. The amount of venom to be injected is divided into small volumes and injected separately into different organs where antibodies are produced (back of the neck – lymph nodes) to prevent ulcer or sore skin and maximize the area of immune reaction. 3. The process of immunizing depends upon – •Type of anti –venom • The snake used • The sort of antibodies desired Purification :- 1. Blood is taken from the immunized animal and is centrifuged to separate plasma from the blood cells. 2. Basically, it is the plasma which contains effective antibodies against the venom. 3. The plasma is the filtered and remaining blood cells may be injected back into the animal. 4. This is done though: • Precipitation- The precipitate contains unwanted amino acids and proteins, which are then discarded off. • Adjusting the Plasma‟s pH to 7.4- This step is required to maintain the neutral pH of the solution containing plasma. • Adding salts (ammonium sulphate, hydroxylapatite etc) – Salts stabilizes the • Breaking down of antibodies into small parts isolates its active ingredients consisting of the required anti-venom. Human Use :- 1. The purified anti-venom is lyophilized and refrigerated in vials. 2. In case of emergency the vials are filled with saline solution and injected intravenously (near the bitten region). 3. A patient envenomed by snake bite requires 25-30 vials of anti-venom to be healed (1 vial = 6000 antivenin units) Stability and Storage:- 1. Stability is essential to determine the shelf-life of the product and intends to prove that anti-venom remains stable and effective. 2. Quality control parameters determined at regular time intervals are venom neutralization potency, turbidity and content of aggregates. 3. Anti-venom is stored at temperature within a range that assures the stability. 4. For liquid preparations, requires storage temperature at between 2˚ and 8˚ Celsius. 5. Interruptions in temperature may lead to deterioration. ASV dosage form :- ASV comes in two form lyophilized powdered and liquid.

Anti-Venom Producing Centres in India:- • Bengal Chemicals and pharmaceuticals Ltd.- Kolkata • Central Research Institute of Kasuli – Kasuli • Haffkine Biopharmaceutical Co – Pune • King Institute – Chennai • Vins Bio-products Ltd.- Hyderabad • Biological „E‟ Ltd.- Hyderabad

NB- Facility for production of anti-venom is not available in the Government hospitals. However, there are vaccine manufacturing institutes, engaged in production of anti- snake venom serum as under: · Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli · Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (HBPCL), Mumbai · Biological E Ltd., Hyderabad · King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research (KIPM), Chennai · Bharat Serums & Vaccine Ltd., Thane

India’s first national survey of the causes of death, the Million Death Study, undertaken in 2001-03 by the Registrar General of India and the Centre for Global Health Research gives an estimate of 46,000 annual deaths by snakebite in the country whereas the Government of India’s Central Bureau of Health Intelligence reports only 1,350 deaths each year for the period 2004 to 2009. This massive statistical disparity has important and urgent implications. There are four species groups of snakes (of the nearly 300 different species in India) primarily responsible for what is likely to be the highest death rate from snakebite in any country in the world,  the ‘Big Four’: cobra (four species), krait (eight species), saw-scaled viper (two subspecies) and Russell’s viper. All are widely distributed throughout most of the country although areas like the far Northeast, the Himalayan region and the Andaman’s and Nicobar Islands have distinctive snake fauna.

The venom for producing antivenom comes mainly from the Irula Snake-catchers Industrial Cooperative Society at the Madras Crocodile Bank on Chennai’s East Coast Road. And herein lies one of the problems. Clinicians in other parts of the country are reporting that the antivenom they are using is relatively ineffective in counteracting the effects of a venomous bite. This could be explained by geographic variation in the composition of the venom of a single species.

Since snakebite is a rural problem, primarily affecting India’s farmers, rural labourers and their families it would make sense for antivenom and associated treatment to be available at Primary Health Centers and other rural medical facilities. However, this is often not the case and training in snake identification and snakebite treatment is woefully inadequate.

The Million Death Study puts it in a nutshell: “Snakebite remains an underestimated cause of accidental death in modern India. Community education, appropriate training of medical staff and better distribution of antivenom, especially to the 13 states with the highest prevalence, could reduce snakebite deaths in India.”

WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS

The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology (MCBT), in collaboration with scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IIS), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), the Australian Venom Research Unit (AVRU) from the University of Melbourne and the Global Snakebite Initiative have begun an ambitious project working with government and antivenom manufacturers to revolutionise the production of snake antivenoms for use in India. This multi-component project will combine science, conservation, and improved production of antivenom starting materials with preclinical and clinical trials of new antivenom formulations. In addition the project is exploring other key questions, particularly in relation to Russell’s viper which is responsible for many serious and fatal bites. Venom is being collected from different geographic areas around India, quickly frozen using a new GSI-developed protocol and then being studied to examine how effectively it is neutralised by the current Indian antivenoms. Detailed proteomic studies will follow. Results of these studies are also expected to contribute to improving the quality and potency of Indian antivenoms.

 

Guideline and Standard Operating Procedure for Snake Rescue and Release in india

Guideline and Standard Operating Procedure for Snake Rescue and Release in india1

Guideline and Standard Operating Procedure for Snake Rescue and Release in india

 

Steps to be followed by the Applicants for submitting Application for capture, handling, rescue of Snakes only for the purpose of collection of Snake Venom

collection of Snake Venom

General Information About Snakes

• Snakes have existed on this earth for 130 million years, since the era of dinosaurs.
• There are more than 2500 species of snakes in the world, out of which about 20% of species are venomous.
• About 300 species of snakes are found in India.
• There are mainly four venomous snakes found in India – Common Krait, Cobra, Russell’s Viper, Saw-Scaled Viper.
• The process of removing venom from snakes is called “milking”. This can be done only in authorized institutes by the experts.
• King Cobra is the world’s largest venomous snake and the only snake that makes a nest and lays eggs.
• Not all species of snakes lay eggs. 70% of snakes lay eggs and the rest give birth directly (ovoviviparous).
• About 2.5 lakh people in India suffer from snakebite every year, out of which about 50,000 die due to lack of treatment.
• There are many myths related to the Red Sand Boa, which people consider to be a two-faced snake, the shape of its tail is similar to its mouth, which confuses people.
• There is no poison in the tail of any snake, poisonous snakes hunt with their venom.
• Neither the snake drinks milk, nor the snake has a naagmani, these are all misconceptions.
• All snakes are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Capturing or causing damage to snakes is punishable by statutory punishment, which is punishable by a fine of up to Rs 25,000/- or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years.

Snake Bite Prevention Methods

• In India, 75% of snake bites are below the knee.
• Keep the space around the house clean and dry.
• Keep the sacks and bags in a high place.
• Use mosquito nets while sleeping on the ground.
• Always check the beddings, clothes, shoes, etc. that are kept on the ground before using them.
• If you see a snake, stay calm and contact the snake rescuer or forest department immediately.
• Always use shoes or gumboots.
• You should not walk between dense plants after the evening.
• Always carry a stick for clearing the path and a torch to see while walking in the dark.

What if there is no sanke?

• Major diet of Snakes like Cobras and Rate snakes are rodents, these rodents eat a large part of our foodgrains. At present, the estimate of loss in foodgrains from rodents is about 20%. If snakes are not there the population of rodents will be uncontrolled and hence, the loss of foodgrains will increase by40-60%.
• Rodents can also spread diseases like plague.

FAQ: Legal issues & Best practices

As per the laws of the country, Snakes are protected under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act- 1972. The protection is given to snakes considering their ecological value and to safeguard them from the Illegal Wildlife Trade where live snakes, snake venom, snakeskin are traded by criminals.

Are snakes protected under laws in India?

Yes, snakes are protected as wild animals under various schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Illegal hunting and possession of such protected snakes/ its body parts / venom are punishable offenses under the Act. The severity of punishment depends on the location (inside a protected area / outside the protected area) of the offense and the species of snake involved.

Why the snake charming is illegal in India?

Snake charmers violate the wildlife laws of the country by keeping protected wildlife in their custody without permission from authorities. This is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Moreover, snakes are mistreated by most charmers and often die due to acquired infections. Many snake charmers are also involved in duping the general public with promises ‘naagmani’ (which does not exist) as well as trading in banned wildlife products. Hence, snake charming is discouraged is India.

If I kill a snake that entered my house, will I get arrested?

Yes- the killing of a snake that is protected by the law under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. However, if the killing of a snake happened in self-defense or to save someone else’s life, the same can be considered by the investigating officer or the Hon. Court who will take an appropriate decision after looking into the circumstances leading up to the killing of the snake. Therefore, it is preferable to contact a snake rescuer in such a situation rather than handling such a situation on one’s own.

What is the best method to deal with a snake during a human-snake conflict situation?

The best way is to allow the snake to move away from the conflict situation on its own, if the same can be organized. Please remember that most snakes have been living unobserved in the same locality for a long time and given the opportunity it may disappear and not be seen in the future. A snake removal should be done by a trained expert using snake hooks, pipe, and a bag.

Can I keep a snake as a pet in India ?

No Indian snake species cannot be kept as pet within the country. This includes any species of snakes which are listed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Some snake species are not specifically listed in the Act, but the Family mentioned will include all species under it. There are no legal issues in keeping non- native and non-CITES covered species as pets in India. Legalities aside, keeping snakes as pets is not encouraged from a conservation point of view as many such pet snakes are later released into the wild when the owner tire of them or it becomes too much of a responsibility. This could spell disaster for the biodiversity of the region as these species may become invasive species and destroy native wildlife. The Burmese pythons in Florida are one of the best examples of such a disaster.

Which is the most protected snake in the Country?

All pythons found in India are accorded the highest level of protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This is due to the huge threat that pythons face from hunting for meat and skin in most parts of India. Currently, their population is increasing across the country and not in any serious threat. The other highly protected snake is the Indian egg eater which has very limited geographical distribution and their numbers may be dwindling due to habitat loss. The exact population status is not known as of now, but they do need strict protection under the law and also habitat-level protection to ensure their survival.

Is rescuing a snake without proper permission from the authorities is illegal?

As per the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection), Act – 1972 ( Act), capturing or attempt to capture a wild animal is an offense under Section 9 of the Act. The Act does not have any provision to conduct a ‘rescue’ and all capture of wildlife is considered as an act of ‘hunting’. So, the rescue of a snake under any circumstance is considered as hunting whether it is to save the life of the animal or protect a human being from harm. The Act also has provisions to provide permissions to hunt under sections 11& 12 which has to be issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden or an authorized officer in writing. So, a rescuer should get such permission from the authorities before he engages in any kind of rescue operation.
Anyone who is suspected/accused of hunting has to prove his innocence in front of the investigation officer/court as the burden of proving innocence is on the accused as per the provisions of the Act. It is a must that anyone who is engaged in a regular snake rescue has a valid permit.

 

Compiled  & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)

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Reference-On Request.