SNAKE RESCUE AS PROFESSION : SNAKE MILKER AS NEW STARTUP IN INDIA & GUIDELINES FOR THE RESCUE AND RELEASE OF SNAKES FROM THE HUMAN DOMINATED AREAS BY CERTIFIED SNAKE HANDLERS

GUIDELINES FOR THE RESCUE AND RELEASE OF
SNAKES FROM THE HUMAN DOMINATED AREAS BY
CERTIFIED SNAKE HANDLERS

Till now we were hearing that rescue of snake is a hobby but It is rediculous to hear the snake rescue as profession and Snake milker as startup in India in the Modi Govt,but it is reality.People has laughed on the Pakoura selling as startup but it is the fact.
If a person earn money with dignity and run his livelihood by applying his professional acumen in this alarming time of unemployment era amid COVID Pandemic in India ,It is the best way of life and the Hobby turn profession is Snake rescue job.In the small city of Jamshedpur there are more than 50 professional snake rescuers who are running their livelihood from this.Even one Rtd. Er from Tata steel Mr. NK Singh who is a reknown snake rescuer in India is earning Lakhs of rupees a month by selling snake venom to CMC Vellore.Govt has provided him Forest land for snake breeding in Kuchai near Jamshedpur.He is a famous snake milker in India.

One more famous snake rescuer Chandan Pathak of Golmuri, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand is doing great job by doing the snake rescue job in the city.

India needs such more entrepreneur in this sector to make it self sufficient in anti venom production.
There is now a course that can teach you how to catch, handle and identify poisonous and non- poisonous snakes. A first of its kind certificate and diploma course on snakes is being started by the Snake Research Organization (SRO) in Ujjain. The course has been designed by the founder of the Snake Research Organisation, Mukesh Ingle, a herpetologist who has authored seven books on reptiles and amphibians and conducted several research projects in central India.

Guidelines for Snake Rescue and Release in India.————–

https://forest.kerala.gov.in/images/flash/whatsnew/guidelineswlw.pdf

While the certification will be valid for five years, the respective ACF (Social Forestry) can withdraw or cancel the same if the snake handler is found to be involved in any illegal or unethical practices.

The protocol tasks certified snake handlers with responding to alerts of snake presence in human habitations, informing the caller of the immediate precautions to be adopted, and to intimate the ACF (Social Forestry) concerned of the activity. They will be required to wear protective gear and equip themselves with safety equipment while on the task.

The rescued snakes will also have to be released in the presence of forest officials at the earliest. If found injured, the snake can be released only after ascertaining its fitness. Non-native species, however, cannot be released, but handed over to the Forest Department.

Beat forest officers will also be imparted training on safe handling of snakes at State Forest Training Institutes. As many as 318 forest officers completed the first phase of training recently.Source-https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/snake-handling-now-comes-with-guidelines/article32612114.ece

Maharashtra forest department issues guidelines for the rescue and release of snakes

‘Snake friends’, or individuals who can handle live snakes, are found across the different state of India. Unfortunately, many of these youngsters lack experience and training in proper snake handling methods and snake rescue protocols. Though they attend snake rescue calls and often become local celebrities, they unnecessarily handle live snakes and perform risky stunts that they document on social media. There have been innumerable cases where such dangerous stunts with venomous snakes have cost people their lives. Public also needs to be educated that most of the snakes are not dangerous. Rather snakes play a major role in the eco system. They render pest control services by controlling the rodent population. Rodents not only spread diseases like leptospirosis but also consume a substantial amount of food grains that humans store for daily consumption. Also, by feeding on other animals like amphibians, birds and reptiles, snakes play a role in maintaining the balance of an eco system. Due to ignorance and lack of information, snakes create much fear amongst the general population. In such a scenario, any individual who knows how to handle a snake becomes a celebrity. Often, this status becomes a hurdle in the way of taking strict action against unethical handlers and rescuers, and enforcing the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. It is also true that in many instances the Forest Department depends on local rescuers to address snake-human conflict situations. This is because internal expertise within the department is not available at all places every time, which makes on-field enforcement difficult at the ground level. Many a time, a serious disconnect have been noticed between the community of snake friends and forest staff. Therefore, the guideline has become necessary.

Scope:

Following guidelines are being formulated after consulting field functionaries and experienced NGOs in this field. These guidelines are specific to activities related to snake rescue and release. They do not cover topics of venom extraction, anti-venom manufacturing, and crimes related to snake and snake venom trade. These subjects are addressed in the Wild Life Protection Act (1972), and such incidences can be dealt by authorized Forest Officers of the area.

Objectives:

i) To regulate snake rescue activities through local Forest Department offices and establish a network of responsible snake friends in each region. ii) To create standard formats for documentation to be submitted to the forest department.

Guidelines :

I) To become Volunteers
: i) Person interested in voluntary snake conservation activities can submit his details in form (Annexure-II) to the local Deputy Conservator of Forest/Divisional Forest Officer/ Sub Divisional Forest Officer, Concerned Officer after scrutiny and satisfaction include the name of such person in the list prepared for the knowledge of the people.
ii) The person submitting his name should have sufficient training scientific knowledge about snake and experience of handling snakes of the area.
iii) Such enlisted volunteers should not only rescue and handle snakes but also get involved regularly in public awareness about importance of snakes role in nature conservation.
iv) Such enlisted volunteers will not be paid any remuneration for their services by the forest department, as these are rendered voluntarily. However, actual expenses rendered by the rescuer may be reimbursed.

II) Before Snake Rescue :

i) When attending a rescue call, study the situation and identify whether there is a need for rescue at all. Most often, the snake and humans are not under any threat. Usually, the mere appearance of a snake triggers panic in people. Stick around till the snake moves away, safe from any public action. A decision making tree to attend rescue calls is given in Annexure- I
ii) Gathering Information :
a) Reassure the caller and ask them to calm down
b) Immediately transfer the call to another rescuer if you cannot attend it.
c) Get description of the snake as well as area/site where it has been spotted.
d) Record the address and nearby, prominent landmark to reduce the time spent looking for the place. The contact details of the caller must be recorded
iii) Briefing the Caller :
a) Brief the caller on steps to be taken till the rescue site can be reached
b) Ask them to keep track of the snake from a distance, if it’s moving
c) Emphasize that they should not attempt to kill or capture the snake on their own
d) Ask them not to disturb the snake if it’s resting.
e) Ask them to keep everyone away, except one person who is monitoring the snake.
f) Give them an approximate response time III) During Actual Rescue :
i) On site activities :
a) Instruct all the people present to clear the area.
b) Ensure that proper lighting is available. If needed, arrange for it.
c) Check handling equipment and relevant accessories and personal protection equipment. Keep all required tools ready before starting the actual restraining procedure
d) Make an assessment of the situation and decide whether it is necessary to intervene.
e) Capture the snake as per the guidelines.
ii) Necessary equipment like (hooks, tongs, tubes and pipes) are essential for safe handling.
iii) In a scenario wherein the snake is in a conflict situation with danger to its life or danger to the people around it, use safe bagging techniques, learnt during the training, to bag the snake and ventilated. After bagging the snake, put it into a protective case/box for transportation.
iv) Special care has to be taken while rescuing snakes that are injured and snakes that might have recently eaten. In such cases, handling must be minimized and a dark towel, pipe or tubing capture method should be used rather than tongs or hooks.
v) Work in pairs whenever possible. Try to restrict handling to two instances, once while bagging the snake and the second while releasing it.
vi) Concentrate on the rescue at hand and avoid taking videos, talking on the phone or addressing the crowd during the rescue.
vii) Keep all onlookers at a safe distance so as to avoid accidents.
viii) Speak to the gathered crowd about the snake that was captured, its habitat and its ecology. Explain how people can co-exist with snakes by making simple changes to their immediate surroundings.
ix) Do not attend any rescue calls under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
IV) Dos & Don’ts while releasing rescued snakes i) If the snake is fit for release then do it without delay, within 24 hours of rescue, under the guidance and supervision of the Forest Department. ii) Keep records of the rescue and release in a prescribed format. See Annexure III (Include the photographs of the snake either before rescue or after rescue for location/habitat identification.
iii) In case of non-venomous snakes, try to release it as close to the rescue site as possible, a little away from human habitation.
iv) In case of venomous snakes, the local forest department and the snake rescuer should identify and designate a release site within the local geography. These sites should be changed periodically, with a break of at least 30 days between releases at the same site.
v) All releases should be made as per the reported activity time of the particular snake. For example, nocturnal snakes should be released at night and snakes that are active during the day should be released in the daytime. Very high temperatures and harsh sunlight should be avoided during release. Rescued snakes should be released in nature immediately.
vi) Do not attend any release under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

5. Do Not
   i) Keep live snakes in captivity, except for medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, it should be administered under the supervision of the local forest department.
   ii) Indulge in live snake shows. Any such action will be booked under the relevant clauses of the Wild Life Protection Act (1972).
   iii) Unnecessarily handle rescued snakes. Handling puts snakes under more stress and can lead to diseases and in extreme cases death of the reptile. 6. Important points to note i) Get acquainted with the First Aid procedures in case of a venomous snakebite and always carry “Safe Rescuer” cards with you. (Annexure- IV)

Rescue & Release Form

Reference No :
Date:
Name & Address of the person who called :
Phone No: Location of the animal :
Species:
Size – Adult/juvenile : Injuries if any
: Medical care needed: Captivity details if any : Date of rescue :
Date of release :
Rescuers name & Address :
Notes : Release date, time and Venue :
Condition of animal at the time of release :
Forest department Seal & Signature

THE GUIDELINES FOR THE RESCUE AND RELEASE OF  SNAKES FROM THE HUMAN DOMINATED AREAS BY CERTIFIED SNAKE HANDLERS CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM HERE IN PDF FORMATE:

GUIDELINES FOR THE RESCUE AND RELEASE OF

Source-https://forest.kerala.gov.in/images/flash/whatsnew/guidelineswlw.pdf

SNAKE MILKER AS A NEW STARTUP IN INDIA

Snakebite is a medically and socially significant issue in India. There are currently seven pharmaceutical laboratories in India which produce antivenom against four medically important Indian snake species (cobra (Naja sp.), krait (Bungarus sp.), Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) and sawscaled viper (Echis carinatus sp.), the ‘big four’. Most venom for antivenom production is sourced from Chennai, South India. While the ‘big four’ are responsible for a majority of serious and fatal bites, the situation is actually much more complex.
A snakebite is a serious medical problem in rural India and in April 2009, snakebite was added to WHO’s list of ‘neglected tropical diseases’ . A recent study reported that worldwide, the total number of snakebites could be as high as 5.5 million with 94,000 deaths. estimate for snakebite deaths in India is a staggering 50,000 per annum.
Reasons for such a high incidence of snakebite and resultant mortality in India include the following:

• High numbers of snake species of medical importance in agricultural areas.
• Inadequate distribution/availability/publicity of antivenom serum (AVS).
• Reliance on traditional and quack treatments.
• Walking at night without light, no adequate footwear, sleeping on ground mats.
• Lack of widely disseminated, standardized first aid and treatment protocols.
• Geographic variation in venom composition.
• Lack of knowledge about snake habits and behaviour.
• Inadequate training of clinicians in dealing with snakebite.

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 authorities. 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.

Production of antivenom

Snake antivenom immunoglobulins (antivenoms) are the only therapeutic products for the treatment of snakebite envenoming. The lack of availability of effective snake antivenom immunoglobulins to treat envenoming by medically important venomous snakes encountered in various regions of the world has become a critical health issue at global level. Current methods of antivenom production rely on the use of animals to manufacture these life-saving products. Whether they should be the venomous snakes, from which venom is obtained for use as an immunogen, the horses, sheep or other large animals that are injected with the venom, and serve as living antibody factories, producing hyperimmune plasma from which antivenom is derived, or the small laboratory animals who are sacrificed in order to test the preclinical efficacy and safety of antivenoms, there is an absolute necessity for all manufacturers to use animals humanely and ethically.
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;
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’
AVS is supplied by Indian antivenom producers to government hospitals at Rs 115 per vial . 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,

What Is a Snake Milker?

A snake milker is a specialist zoologist who is able to extract venom from snakes and other venomous reptiles for the purpose of creating anti-venom or for medical research. A snake milker is a type of herpetologist which in turn is a type of zoologist. People who work in this highly specialized area extract venom from snakes and other reptiles which produce venom that could cause illness and death. They are specially trained in handling these sensitive and protected animals which often have legal protection. To become a snake milker requires many years of education. There are two main purposes for the extraction of venom.
The first is that such venom has potential research properties. Biological scientists may be looking for specific genetic markers or attributes of the venom to test in a range of medical applications. Treatments and cures can often come from the most surprising of places. Specifically, venoms have been used to treat blood clots, combat blood pressure and reduce heart attack risk.
The second main reason for extracting venom is for emergency procedures. When bitten by a snake, a patient could potentially have just a couple of hours to live without treatment. Snake milkers remove the venom so that medical professionals can create anti-venom to treat the affected person.
Snake milking is a highly specialized and niche career category within the zoology industry. Most snake milkers work in a laboratory setting extracting venom for use in medical research or treatments. Job responsibilities for snake milkers generally include:
• Use specialized laboratory equipment to extract venom from living snakes
• Calibrate and maintain laboratory equipment
• Become knowledgeable in the safe handling of venomous snakes, as well as medical treatment procedures in the event of a snake bite
• Handle, label, catalog and store snake venom after extraction
• Perform care tasks for snake specimens as needed, including feeding, administering medications and documenting health, diet or behavior

Where Does a Snake Milker Work?

A snake milker who works in the field will find employment at a “serpentarium”. This is a type of lab that houses and researches snakes and other related venomous reptiles. The lab itself may also have other duties such as conservation, breeding, research, rehabilitation and veterinarian services. The snake milker may have more than one responsibility with the lab. Some of these specialist labs will be at zoos, some will be at universities and some will be small, independent facilities offering services on a contract basis. This is a small and niche area with little actual data. We do know that they spend their time tending to snakes, extracting the venom and freeze-drying it for sale to researchers, hospitals, animal charities and anybody else who might have a legal and genuine requirement for the snake venom.

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 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.
Snake venom production for antivenom in India was done solely by the Haffkine Institute in Mumbai prior to the establishment of ISCICS outside Chennai. prior to the establishment of ISCICS outside Chennai. There are currently seven laboratories producing antivenom in India with a total production capacity estimated at two million, 10 ml vial. Based solely on venom sales by the Irula Cooperative, requirements to fulfil this capacity are approximately 1,330 g each of N. naja and D. russelii and 133 g each of B. caeruleus and E. carinatus. The current potency of Indian antivenoms is 0.60 mg/ ml for cobra, while prior to the 1950s, it was 4 mg/ml. In Russell’s viper venom, it was 2 mg/ml and is now a mere 0.45 mg/ml.

Snakebite is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and disabilities every year in India. In a somewhat complex ‘snakes-of-medical-importance’ scenario, there is an urgent need to address the following issues to improve the situation. • Venom/antivenom research to establish venom toxicity, antivenom potency, minimum effective dose of antivenoms, cross-reactivity of antivenom among species and the important area of geographic variation of venoms. • Venom production in sufficient quantities and to supply the demand, under WHO protocol to produce a high standard of venom with immediate attention to proven and likely geographic variations. • To achieve the previous point it is suggested that India’s largest venom producer, the ISCICS be reconstituted as a multi-state cooperative under the central government so that snake venom for the production of antivenom can be collected from as wide a geographic area as possible in recognition of the fact that there is considerable regional variation in the composition of venoms and that there are species other than the ‘big four’ responsible for serious bites. • Field studies on the distribution and abundance of the medically important snakes to guide antivenom manufacture (regionally specific, monovalent, bivalent, polyvalent) and effects on local populations, if any, on capture of large numbers for antivenom production. • Designing a protocol acceptable to wildlife authorities for the capture of sufficient numbers of snakes for India’s antivenom needs, safety standards for venom extraction and humane treatment of captured snakes. • Education and awareness campaign to publicize use and effectiveness of antivenom as opposed to local, quack remedies. • Enforcement of stringent laws against bogus snakebite ‘treatments’ and appropriate public awareness against these practices. • Inducing state and central government health agencies to ensure wider availability of antivenom on a subsidized/free distribution basis for the rural poor via primary health centres and other rural health facilities. • Antivenom production to supply India’s needs under WHO protocol including additional species if venom research and clinical data proves their medical significance. Producing a pan-Asian antivenom – a high potency antivenom designed for several countries across the South Asian region, produced in large volumes and dispensed in single dose vials is a worthy goal. • Training of clinicians in correct treatment and management of serious snakebites. To effectively implement these strategies, it has been suggested to the Ministry of Health, Government of India that it convenes a series of regional and central meetings of the key stakeholders including the following • Venom producers • Venom researchers • Antivenom producers • Clinicians with snakebite experience • State and central health authorities • Environment/wildlife authorities • WHO experts • Herpetologists with local experience. Finally, it is significant to note that despite efforts over a period of nearly 10 years, we have been unable to elucidate concrete information about any other venom production units in India. There is ample evidence to suggest that several other venom producers do exist, and several individuals involved in the production of antivenom have confirmed this. These venom producers are most likely illegal, as suggested by paucity of information concerning them and by their temporary nature. If mechanisms are complimented to better facilitate, and also regulate the creation of venom production facilities, it would go a long way in promoting the production of high quality venoms (following WHO protocol) and creating better systems of accountability and reporting.
NB-In india at present there is no course on Snake milker like USA & other European Union.There is urgent need of such course to be started in India too so that unemployed educated and interested youth can adopt this as profession.

Reference-On request

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

 

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Reference-On Request.

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