What Snakes are these?
These are baby Trinkets. And this is for the first time in India that they are being bred
in captivity. I found their mother almost dead. I brought her home, and nurtured her. She
laid 8 eggs. These are the two which hatched ( He tosses in a baby lizard into the tank as
feed).
Contrary to what the reptile theoreticians assume, it took 85 days for them to hatch. They
said 45 to 50 days. I have proved them wrong. Until you do it by yourself, you'll never
know for sure.
Have you bred any other snakes in captivity before?
Yes. I have incubated, hatched and raised 17 cobras in captivity.
When and where was your earliest contact with snakes?
On my uncles farm in Chickballapur. It was punishment transfer according to my folks, 'coz
I'd fared badly in my 10th standard exams. But for me, it was some of the greatest days of
my life, as I would catch lots of snakes and then release them in the nearby forests. I
guess I became an expert from those days on the farm.
How did you become popular as a snake catcher in Bangalore?
After I moved to Bangalore after the farm days, I used to help catch snakes initially from
the houses of my friends and relatives. Gradually the word spread and then people from all
parts of the city started calling me.
Which parts of Bangalore are most infested with snakes?
The whole of Bangalore actually. But, the most densely infested areas are Kamanahalli,
Bashweshwar Nagar, HAL - Indiranagar, Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Giri Nagar areas.
Which were your biggest and memorable catches upto date?
The biggest catch was 57 snakes from the compound of the Drug Testing Laboratory and 21
snakes from the compound of the residence of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, then Mr.
Bhaskar Rao, both on the same road.
What is the reaction of the people after you catch the snakes.
Relieved naturally. But, I'm surprised at the concern that the people of Bangalore have
for snakes. In some cases, after they find out that the snake is not poisonous, they have
requested me to release it there itself. Having a non poisonous snake in your yard is
actually a prevention against poisonous ones and they also get rid of all the rodents.
Do you have anybody to assist you?
Earlier, I was alone, but now I have about 16 persons who have been trained by me.
What is your 'modus operandi' so to speak?
We are alerted of the presence of snakes by phone calls. We then reach the spot
immediately and trace out the snake. The catch is made usually with bare hands, but we use
the hook at times when we have to get them out of holes or crevasses. We then put them
into specially made snake bags that are 4 feet long and then bring them to my house where
they are then placed in snake boxes. After a gap of 7-8 days, we then take them to the
Banerghatta forest where they are released in the presence of the Government Forest
officer.
Where do these snakes normally tend to hide?
Almost anywhere actually. I have caught them from ceiling fans, inside car bonnets,
motorbikes, suitcases…..practically everywhere.
What are the varieties common to Bangalore?
Cobras, which are poisonous and rat snakes which are non-poisonous. In all there are 19
varieties of snakes in Bangalore, (though the theoreticians wrongly state 21) including
the big four poisonous snakes.
In fact after all these years I can tell where the snake is from when I see it. The ones
from Bashweshwar Nagar area have a dark tinge to their skin, while those from other areas
bear different characteristics.
What are the Big Four?
They are the four most poisonous snakes in the world, and Bangalore has all four of them.
The Cobra, Krait, Russell's Viper and the Saw-scaled Viper.
Why do snakes attack humans?
Actually snakes never attack unless they are provoked or attacked. So if you see a snake,
just keep still and look at it in the eye. Don't ever make a move towards it.
65% of all snake bite cases are those that take place when the snake is attacked.
25% when they are stamped upon unknowingly in the dark.
5% when people roll over them in their sleep, especially in the villages where the snake
snuggles up to keep warm.
And only 5% to so called 'freak' causes.
Remember,snakes never bite that which they cannot swallow and all they know is eating,
mating and hiding!
Have you ever been bitten by snakes?
By the grace of God, not till now. Neither have any of my assistants been bitten.
Do you have any support for your efforts?
Till date, in all my 13 years of doing this service to the people of Bangalore, I have not
received a single penny as support. I have been spending from my own pocket. The expenses
include the cost of snake bags, which are Rs.35 per bag. We require a minimum of 12 bags a
month. Then there is fuel expenses for the bikes and mobile phone bills.
How do you manage without any public support?
I love snakes. Somehow I feel it my duty to protect these lovely creatures from unwanted
killing. By the grace of God or by the strangest of coincidences, every time I rescue a
snake after a call, I manage to get an order for making a Billiard table, which is my line
of business. So, touch wood, so far I have not felt the pinch. But I sincerely wish
someone would come forward with help. It is always welcome. But somehow it is not in me to
go around asking for it. |
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Have you won any awards for your meritorious service?
One Government official has been telling me for the last 3 years that they propose to give
me the Rajyotsava Award for the service I'm doing for the public.
Nothing has happened. Nothing will, even for the next 3 years. ( He laughs)
The S.P.C.A. gave me an award last year for my service .I attend to snake calls for the
S.P.C.A. also.
Do you have any future plans?
Yes. I have a lot of plans. But without funding It's helpless.
I have compiled all my experiences with snakes into a book, which I feel can be read and
understood by both 3rd standard school kids as well as medical professionals.
I hope to publish it someday, if somebody is willing to fund it.
As we thank him and get up to go, one of his assistants arrive with a cobra, caught that
morning from Kamanahalli. Mohammed is suddenly alert as he inspects the snake and
instructs the man to put it in one of the snake boxes.
We wonder if the cobra is aware that in a week's time, it will be free again, in its own
habitat, thanks to a 29 year old, who became their protector and guardian since that
fateful morning 21 years ago.
- Interviewed by Monu D. Surendran
If you wish to donate to the cause of rescuing and rehabilitating
snakes or for snake rescue:
Contact:
Mohammed Anees
No.15 Coles Road,
Opp. Bank of Baroda
Frazer Town
Bangalore 560 005
Ph: 5487424, Mobile: 98440 37424
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