This Naga Panchami, July 25, the Bharatiya Prani Mitra Sangh jointly with the Wildlife Protection Society and other animal welfare organisations will be on vigil to rescue snakes from the so-called snake charmers or saperas.
Every year during Naga Panchami cobras are tortured and defanged unethically. The snakes are then forcefully fed with milk and other fluids which act as potential toxins to their body resulting in severe indigestion and eventual deaths. Catching snakes or causing injury to them is them is a legal offence which can lead to imprisonment under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Mahesh Agarwal, Secretary of the Bharatiya Prani Mitra Sangh, appealed to the devotees not to feed milk to snakes.
"The snakes can't digest the milk, and hence it is harmful for their bodies. Also, snake charmers subject the snakes to various types of cruelties which in turn result in the snakes dying soon. We therefore urge the people of Telangana to discourage the cruel practice of feeding milk to snakes. And for your own sake, too, please perform poojas only at your homes or at the nearest temples, given the rampaging coronavirus," he said.
"Due to the coronavirus we are not deputing our volunteers onto the roads this year. But if anybody finds any snake charmer displaying snakes, please call our helpline 9394005600 or the local police station. We will send our volunteers to the area and rescue the snake. The rescued snakes will be released into their natural habitat as per the direction of the forest department. A dedicated Helpline in this regard has been established," Agarwal added.
filed in:Animal Conservation, Animals, Crime Against Animals, Crime, Festivals