Meera Bhardwaj:
All forest zones in Karnataka to have Reptile Protection Staff. About 4-5 forest staff in each zone will receive reptile protection training for protection of snakes and other reptiles.
However, snake/wildlife rescuers say although this move is welcome but in reality it is not possible. Now how many forest staff can actually move from village to town to city to rescue snakes? Presently, every day 250-300 calls are received in each district for snake rescue while in Bengaluru alone, 100 calls are received per day.
HUGE COMPLAINTS ON SNAKE CONSERVATION
In the last few weeks, many complaints have been received by the Karnataka Forest Minister’s office that many snake conservation & research organizations in Kodagu and Shivamogga districts are indulging in illegal commercial activities in the aftermath of the rescue of King Cobra or Kaalinga Snake (Schedule-1 species) in farms and houses around Agumbe and Kodagu forests.
In this background, Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has stated in a note, “There have been reports of shortage of staff to protect reptiles in the Karnataka Forest Department. It would be better to provide reptile protection training to at least 4-5 frontline forest staff across all forest zones in Karnataka. Many complaints have come in about snakes being photographed/videographed for commercial purposes.”
ILLEGALITIES IN KODAGU, MALENADU
The Forest Minister has said, “Illegal photoshoots of snakes in the wild that are Schedule-1 species are being rampantly carried out in Malenadu and Kodagu zones. So, when complaints of snake sightings in residential houses and gardens are received by snake rescuers, they will have to take permission as per existing rules.”
Further, the protection and conservation of snakes will have to be done by the Karnataka Forest Department’s Reptile Protection Staff. The KFD has also been directed that if there is a need to get services from registered reptile protection staff, they will have to carry out the protection work under the supervision of the forest official.
IMPOSSIBLE TASK FOR FOREST STAFF
Speaking to Green Minute, A Prasanna Kumar, President, Wildlife Rescuers’ Union (which is involved in rescue of snakes, reptiles, birds, mammals and other species), Bengaluru questioned the directions of the minister and said, “This is not possible for the Forest Staff as they are riddled with so many duties like protection work, conservation of forests, anti-poaching & hunting activities, plantation, fire lines during fire season and how will they travel from their forest zones to semi-rural area to cities to rescue snakes and its protection.”
Further, Kumar adds that under the Wildlife Protection Act, all the big four venomous snakes including the King Cobra or Kaalinga Snake are Schedule-1 species and therefore if they allow registered snake rescuers for this work under the supervision of a forest staff, only an Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) can come for supervision. This task will be very difficult for the ACF as his/her area of responsibility is pretty huge and in reality, it is not possible. By the time, we go for rescue, the snake would have been killed by people.”
There is need for discussion with snake and wildlife rescuers in the state before taking such a decision, adds other wildlife rescuers and add, “WE need people who are fearless and with a passionate mindset who can get involved in rescuing venomous snakes without harming the species and release it the same day in the forest.”
RESEARCH FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES
Even if they come forward for snake rescue work, it will be difficult to do this work as people only with passion and are fearless can do this work of rescuing people from the big four which are all venomous. Prasanna Kumar adds, “By the time we go to a house or farm or garden for snake rescue, if we are late, people stone the snake to death. How is it possible for forest staff if they are in deep forests for patrol duty can actually go for snake rescue? To address the human-snake conflict isn’t so easy as people only come to this field for their passion and risking their lives.”
In fact, a case was registered in the Kodagu district after a network was busted that was illegally capturing Kaalinga Snake or King Cobra in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The so-called conservationists but offenders were also involved in allowing photographs and videos to be taken under harsh lighting conditions and long duration for making money.
EXPIRY OF RESEARCH PERMISSION
Likewise, in Malenadu region, in the Agumbe ghats, researchers in this region who had set up their research stations had indulged in “commercial activities” even though the permission for their research work had expired. The permission for some researchers had already expired in 2017 but they were still carrying out their activities.
The State Govt had taken the plethora of complaints received very seriously as photography and video shootings of King Cobra or Kaalinga snakes for documentaries and other activities had been done under the guise of doing research, the Forest Minister added.
TORTURE OF PYTHONS
Apart from this, on 15 September, 2025, some people had caught two pythons on Indira Nagar-Mattur Road and put plaster on the snakes’ mouths and tortured them. They had also taken photos and videos of the two pythons with their mouths plastered – clearly demonstrating their perversion.
Further, the plaster on the mouths of the snakes of the two pythons was not removed until the forest staff arrived and took possession of the pythons. Such an incident has happened due to the lack of trained reptile protection staff in the Karnataka Forest Department.
In this background, the Forest Minister has directed the Karnataka Forest Department to register FIRs against those offenders who illegally stockpile snakes and snake eggs, extract poison and enter reserve forest, sanctuary areas without permission and conduct research. Further, as per rules, forest officials have been asked to take immediate action and also be vigilant so that such incidents do not happen.