Kerala volunteers rescue nearly 40 snakes daily
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
In Kerala, India, residents report around 40 snake sightings each day, and a network of 2,952 volunteers responds to these calls without charge.
These volunteers safely remove snakes from homes, vehicles, and other locations, protecting both people and the animals. The Kerala forest department launched the Snake Awareness, Rescue and Protection Application, SARPA, in August 2020 to connect people with trained rescuers. Since the program’s start, SARPA has received over 105,000 reports of sightings and completed more than 87,000 rescues.
Muhammad Anvar Yunus, nodal officer for Mission SARPA, explained that the region’s dense population alongside natural habitats frequently leads to encounters. Volunteers travel to rescue sites at their own expense, sometimes handling protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act. Currently, the state government is considering providing financial support to the volunteers, including travel allowances and insurance, to acknowledge the risks they take. Volunteers have also requested snake catching kits to improve safety and effectiveness.
Similar rescue efforts are taking place in other countries, including India, the Philippines, and the United States, demonstrating a shared need for trained rescue and conservation efforts when humans and snakes share territory.
