Dr Sanjay Molur: ‘Snakes see us before we see them’

On January 31 animal welfare organisation Upadhyaya Foundation organised the India Animal Welfare Forum IAWF at a venue in BandraKurla Complex gathering conservation experts policymakers and researchers among others to deliberate on critical issues facing Indiarsquos wildlife On the sidelines of the sessions we reached to Dr Sanjay Molur executive director Zoo Outreach Organisation for insights on the subject of his conversation Snake conservationWildlife biologist Gowri Shankar also a speaker at IAWF handles a King CobraExcerpts from the interviewWhat is most misunderstood about snakes How does that make conservation harderItrsquos lack of knowledge and the common fear surrounding snakes in Indian society Myths about snakes supposedly always being out to get you lead to very limited information especially about the potential of certain snakes being venomous Many arenrsquot venomous at all This fear causes a slew of problems in snake encounters as people simply donrsquot know how to respond in the momentAn injured Indian Rock Python rescued by members of wildlife rescue organisation SARRP India part of IAWF Pics courtesySarrp India Gowri ShankarWhat are some ways to reduce humansnake conflict especially in Mumbai which is home to the Sanjay Gandhi National ParkRespond logically not emotionally Donrsquot create a ruckus grab the snake or prod it with an object this only increases chances of being bitten Remember snakes living in our vicinity have probably seen us multiple times before we see them once They have no inherent conflict with us which is why I discourage using the term lsquoconflictrsquo at all interactions positive or negative are usually what occur between humans and snakes If a snake is outside the house observe where itrsquos going it has no business with humans and will automatically find a way out If itrsquos inside ideally create a distance or barrier between yourself and the reptile and call a snake rescuerDr Sanjay MolurCould you share interesting facts that have emerged from recent research about snakes to help us understand them betterCurrently ongoing research has discovered four species of the King Cobra rather than a single one Importantly researchers are studying how snakes respond when relocated especially if taken into captivity after a scare in someonersquos house for example After being released into new habitats they starve and eventually die under the duress of being placed in an unfamiliar area with nothing to anchor them More research is required to see if multiple species respond similarly These findings serve only to help reduce snake bites which kill approximately 60000 annually in IndiaWhat should be done differently for snake conservation in an urban centre like MumbaiIrsquod advise Mumbaikars especially those living amidst greenery to learn to coexist with snakes Small steps like wearing footwear outside the house carrying a torch in the dark and not inserting your hands into random bushes to search for objects are all acts that mitigate chances of snakes harming you in selfdefence and ultimately contribute towards protecting them Snakes have evolved to adapt to varied habitats from forests to mangroves Human settlements push them away but they easily return Removing a snake from your garden makes no difference another one will replace it if therersquos sufficient area to survive Hence learn more about them to avoid harming them or being harmedLog on to zooreachorg