Hyderabad: Seven snakes rescued from snake charmers ahead of Nagapanchami

Friends of Snakes Society and the Forest Department rescued seven snakes, including four Spectacled Cobras, from snake charmers in Hyderabad ahead of Nagapanchami. Officials urged citizens not to encourage snake charmers and warned against feeding milk to captive snakes.

Hyderabad: Ahead of Nagapanchami, Friends of Snakes Society (FOSS), in collaboration with the Forest department, rescued seven snakes in the city and surrounding areas.

Four Spectacled Cobras (Naja naja) were rescued in Maheshwaram after FOSS volunteers spotted snake charmers and alerted J Prabhakar, Forest Range Officer (FRO), Mankhal, who deployed FBO Sai Varun to assist with the rescue.

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The rescued snakes will be treated and monitored for recovery and relocated to suitable locations with the assistance of the Forest Department, FOSS General Secretary Avinash Visvanathan said.

FOSS said displaying live snakes by snake charmers can result in suffering to the animals and urged the public not to encourage or financially support snake charmers.

During the festival, snakes are illegally obtained and kept in captivity by individuals seeking to make money. Devotees may unknowingly attempt to feed them milk, but as snakes do not naturally consume milk, it can cause serious health problems.

Citizens were requested to report snake charmers or illegal possession or display of snakes to the nearest police station, Telangana Forest Department Toll-Free: 1800-425-5364 or Friends of Snakes Society: 83742 33366.