Key Highlights The onset of monsoon and flooding of low-lying areas have inundated snakes’ habitats, pushing them closer to human habitations in Bengaluru

In the past two weeks, BBMP volunteers received over 500 calls requesting for the removal of snakes from homes

Bengaluru: Like most people, Alok Thakur grew up being afraid of snakes. It is only recently that the 48-year-old entrepreneur learnt that most snakes get killed due to ignorance. “Eight out of ten snakes we find are non-venomous. They maintain the balance in the ecosystem. We need awareness,” he said. He started accompanying a snakecatcher on rescue operations. Now, he rescues the reptiles that stray into his neighbourhood.

The onset of monsoon and flooding of low-lying areas have inundated snakes’ habitats, pushing them closer to human habitations. In the past two weeks, BBMP volunteers received over 500 calls requesting for the removal of snakes from homes. BBMP Wildlife Warden Sharath Babu told ET that while he personally receives more than 30 calls everyday, 34 volunteers dedicated to snake rescue get at least 10 calls each. Developing suburbs including Whitefield, Sarjapura, Bannerghatta and Hoskote often see more sightings. This time, however, residents are better prepared. Apart from calling snake catchers, they are adopting different ways to deal with snakes. Some are even getting trained to handle them.

Chockalingam Muthiah, resident of Classic Orchards, a gated community with 500 homes on Bannerghatta Road, recently had a herpetologist educate the community about the various snake species they could encounter. “We show residents images and documentaries on different kinds of snakes. We do not want children to be scared when they go out and play,” he said. “We have had hundreds of snake sightings so far. We regularly send notes via internal mailers and our staff is familiarised with the procedure of dealing with them.” Russell’s Viper, Cobra, Rat Snakes and Vine Snakes are commonly found in their locality. “Today, when we identify a snake as harmless, we usually leave it alone till it slithers away on its own.”

Sumanth Madhav, a wildlife consultant for Humane Society International, said that information on snakes is half-baked. “The truth is these creatures are around because we ourselves are not clean. As long as there is garbage and filth around us, it will attract rodents and then snakes,” he said, explaining how random, unscientific ways of relocating snakes creates ecological imbalance, which kills the reptile itself. “Which is why I usually tell people how it is alright to have the snake around, how it entered their house accidentally and how it would never return.” He was with The Gerry Martin Project, which regularly conducted workshops about snake-bite mitigation for rescuers and residents.

Kasavanahalli resident and behavioural skills trainer Prithvi Raj has sighted and rescued more than 19 species in the area, only four of which are venomous. “The best alternative is learning to coexist. Identification is the first step,” he said, explaining how the number of calls he receives are reducing to twothree per day because of more awareness.

