Assam: Snake faces threat due to deforestation

By Manoj Kumar Ojha

Doomdooma: At least six hundreds snakes including king cobra and rare species of mountain pit viper are being rescued due to heavy deforestation in Tinsukia district of upper Assam every year ,said Devajit Moran, secretary, Green Bud Society, a wildlife worker on Saturday afternoon.

“An estimated 500 to six hundred snakes are being rescued every year in the district . The reason is heavy deforestation in the district. ” Devajit expressed his worries to Our India.

In the last three years king cobra has also been entering in the human habitats. At least seven king cobra has been rescued by Green Bud Snake Rescue Team, Devajit informed.

King cobra is a venomous snake endemic to Asia commonly found in the jungles of Assam and in neighboring Arunachal Pradesh. It has an average length of 3.18 to 4 meters. King cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake.

A rare species of Mountain Pit Viper was also rescued by the Digboi based Snake Rescue Team. It is also a venomous snake found in Asia.

Interestingly at a time when Devajit was releasing a king cobra after rescue in forest on Friday, a video went viral on social media where a king cobra was tied to its neck with rope and taking out in the streets. Hundreds of women and children were following it .

Reacting on the incident, Devajit said, “Few years back , king cobra was not found in the human habitats. It is helplessly entering in the human habitats as the forests land are shrinking day by day.”

“One should inform forest department or a trained Snake Rescue Team if a snake is seen in human habitats. We should make a fun with the life of a snake,” Moran said.

Snakes are protected under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and killing , commercial use or harassment of them can attract arrest which may followed by jail and fine .

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