During the time of Shravan, a month in the Hindu calendar dedicated to Lord Shiva, roads leading to temples are dotted by saffron-clothed men and their colourful baskets. They sit ready to play their flutes to ‘charm’ the snakes in their baskets and attract devotees flocking to the temples.
Illegally poached from the wild, these snakes are rescued by #WildlifeSOS and the U.P Forest Department each year through anti-poaching drives.
On Monday before Nag Panchami, a festival during Shravan dedicated solely to snakes, the team seized 24 snakes - 16 Cobras, 4 Rat snakes and 4 Common Sand Boas.
The snakes, that were kept in brutal conditions, were taken to the Wildlife SOS animal hospital for immediate treatment. Once they are deemed fit, they will be released back into the wild.
The Forest Department takes appropriate action against the saperas and in some cases, they are rehabilitated and provided with an alternative livelihood.
