What would you do if you spotted a Russell’s viper in your
backyard? The quick reaction to kill it with a stick is not the first thought.
With many educational talks and demonstrations conducted over the years, the
first response of Goans is to keep an eye on the snake and call a snake
rescuer. This confidence of being calm and protecting the snake has taken years
to develop, yet the close knit community of snake rescuers have to be
appreciated for their constant efforts.
In a first of its kind, Herpactive, a research-oriented
organisation led by photographer and herpetologist, Nirmal Kulkarni is
organising Goa’s first ever Serpentdine on June 18 at 12 pm at The Pier-Seaside
Bistro, Cruise Terminal, Vasco. This will be an afternoon meet filled with
snake tales and trivia and will celebrate the work of snake men and women,
discuss rescue and release protocol, share anecdotes and above all meet up to
discuss about their favourite creatures- snakes. “We aim to bring together more
like-minded people, get rescuers to meet wildlife lovers and anyone who likes
nature over a nice lunch at an amazing setting. It is a get-together of sorts
too and recognising services of those who have helped the community grow,” says
Nirmal.
The snake rescue community is made up of mostly volunteers
working in the state for over three decades now, rescuing snakes and other
wildlife and helping the Goa Forest department in Goa to reduce human reptile
conflict. It is promising to observe that the awareness about rescuing has
increased tremendously over the years. “People now regularly use the Wildlife
rescue helpline of the Goa Forest Department. Individual rescuers and NGOs have
their own teams that coordinate with Goa Forest Department over rescue and release
calls. Tolerance for snakes in our neighbourhood is also on the rise and that
is a good sign. Almost every school and village now has had had snake awareness
programs and know of a snake rescuer in their vicinity,” explains Nirmal.
And this is what show on the ground. “Goans will now not
kill a snake as a first response like before. But we need to now move on from
relocating snakes from our environs to accepting them in our habitation. The
need is now for tolerance and sharing of space with them. The Serpentdine
program will discuss this as a topic too,” he adds.
During the get together, three men who have dedicated their
time and effort to wholeheartedly get involved in snake rescue and in turn
contributed towards snake conservation in Goa will be felicitated. These three
men are Alex Carpenter, Amrut Singh and Aaron Fernandes. Nirmal informs, “Alex
Carpenter has contributed towards getting the snake community together and
starting the Snakes Id group that has made a huge difference in past few years.
Amrut Singh will be felicitated for his lifelong dedication in training snake
rescuers and beginning the rescue movement in Goa’s hinterlands. Aaron
Fernandes has made consistent efforts in treatment of injured snakes, raising
awareness and tolerance for snakes, and ethical handling practices in Goa’s
snake community.”
The lunch can be attended by anyone above the age of 18,
handlers, rescuers and anyone who loves snakes as it will be an afternoon
filled with activities and demonstrations in the company of like-minded people
involved in herpetology.
There will be lucky draws, a silent auction to support the
work of a fellow snake man in Goa, and meeting up with who’s who from the snake
world whilst having a sumptuous meal. Local rescuer from Vasco, Johnson Stephens,
herpetologists, Gerry Martin and Nirmal Kulkarni, Dr Freston Sirur, SOS Snakes
Ben and Louis, Alex Carpenter, Vikram Hoshing, wildlife veterinarian, Dr Gowri
Mallapur are some of the snake folks who will be attending. There are a few
rescuers from Bangalore, Sindhudurg, Sirsi etc who are attending too.
There is also a best snake hook competition and so handlers
are encouraged to get your snake hooks along. For those who don’t have hooks or
are not handlers, they can place their orders at the meet itself. There will be
stalls by the My Mollem Campaign, Herpactive and others.
However, there will be no slithering snakes. “Keeping or
using snakes for live demonstrations is illegal and against the Wildlife
Protection Act. It is also unethical. There will be no live snakes as part of
the lunch program,” concludes Nirmal.
