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Seven snakes rescued from charmers ahead of Nagapanchami
Friends of Snakes Society (FOSS) and the Telangana Forest Department rescued seven snakes, including four Spectacled Cobras, from snake charmers in Hyderabad ahead of Nagapanchami. The rescues took place in Maheshwaram after…
The Story in Brief
Friends of Snakes Society (FOSS) and the Telangana Forest Department rescued seven snakes, including four Spectacled Cobras, from snake charmers in Hyderabad ahead of Nagapanchami. The rescues took place in Maheshwaram after FOSS volunteers alerted the Forest Range Officer. The snakes will be treated and relocated to suitable habitats.
FOSS urged the public not to encourage snake charmers, warning that feeding milk to captive snakes, a common practice during the festival, causes serious health problems as snakes do not naturally consume milk. Citizens have been asked to report illegal possession or display of snakes to the police or the Forest Department toll-free number.
The Indian Opinion
Nagapanchami is a festival of devotion, not a licence to exploit animals. The annual cycle of illegal snake capture and display is treated as harmless tradition, but it is a clear violation of the Wildlife Protection Act. Citizens who offer milk to captive snakes may think they are being kind, but they are causing harm and funding cruelty. The real test is whether the Forest Department and police act on the tip-off numbers provided, or if the practice quietly resumes after the festival. Will the rescued snakes be rehabilitated, or will they simply be replaced by new ones next year?
Source: telanganatoday.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
