KNOW SNAKES NO RATS

Government High School, Veppampattu,

Tamil Nadu, India

PROBLEM Killing of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes alike leading to increased rat populationIncreased rat population 30 % of food produced in the country is either eaten or destroyed by the rats and other rodentsFood grain prices increasing astronomically; yet food wastage by rats and rodents

Group discussion

Controversial practice against Snakes such worshiping as Goddess Naga Devathai in temples

Attacking snakes when it venture into residential zones instead of rescuing them and letting into forests

Increased rat menace in Paddy fieldsOutbreak of epidemic such as

Leptospirosis result of explosion of rat population

Factors leading to the harms caused

Hunting for skin/medicinal purposeShrinkage of shrub and green cover-

venturing into residential zone for search of prey-get killed by human

Films projecting the vengefulness of snakes mislead the people

How we gained knowledge?

Approached Chennai Snake Park (CSP), Guindy National Park and Department of

Wildlife Science, Madras Veterinary College (MVC), Chennai.

Director, CSP divided the group into 4 units via Basics facts about Snakes in India, Bites and management, POISONOUS and Non- POISONOUS variety and superstitious over snakes

Dr. K. Senthil Kumar, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Wild Life Science, MVC, Chennai shared his knowledge on snake and Management of Snake Bite

Books published by CSP

Can we protect these reptiles from human attacks which in returns save our food grains?

Yes !!! Cobra is the best rat-hunter; worshipping of Cobra as goddess

inhibits people from harming Cobra; Similar attitude to be encouraged

Pests/insects can be kept in the boundaries of agricultural field by using organic pest repellents

Creating awareness on POISONOUS and Non- POISONOUS (Please refer to next slide)

Enlightening the community on how to protect themselves from snake bites by keeping ourselves away snakes’ habitats

Snakes

Land Snakes Sea Snakes(Cylindrical tail) (Flat tail)

Poisonous Poisonous or Non-Poisonous

Small Ventral Shields

Enlarged Ventral Shields

Uniform Small Belly Scales

Non-Poisonous Non-Poisonous Poisonous or Non-Poisonous

Poisonous Poisonous Poisonous or Non-Poisonous

Large Cephalic Shields Pit Viper Pitless Viper

Cobra

Krait

Poisonous Poisonous

Largest IV Infra labial scale

Hexagonal Mid-dorsal Vertebral Scales

III Supra labial shield

The Action

Team visited Chennai Snake Park and learned from the displays and demonstration as well as interacted with Director of the park

Enlightened the devotees in Goddess Naga Devathai temple located in our Panchayat on importance of protecting snake community irrespective of its type

Requested the community to adopt safe methods to rescue the invaded snakes from residential zone – lighting camphor to scare the snake or calling rescue team from nearby town

Invited the professor from Dept. of Wild Life Science, Madras Veterinary college , Chennai to enlighten the community on snake and management of snake bite. Around 150 villagers attended the session

Few highlights from his sessions: How to differentiate POISONOUS and Non- POISONOUS

snakes as well the mark from the bitten area How to protect our living area from snake’s invasion by

clearing the bushes and free from rat holes etc. Carrying torch light while walk into dark areas Keeping the cattle sheds clean and dry to protect the

animals from snake-attack First aid measures for snake bites and treatment centres

(Govt. run Hospital in Dist. Head quarters alone got supply medicine for this)

Emphasised the importance of poisonous snakes in controlling rat population and help to the mankind

Conducted rally with the slogans pen downed by our teammates

Awareness campaigns in agricultural field where people get clash with snakes by accidently

Requested the Gram Sabha to pass the resolution on not to kill the snakes unnecessarily and intentionally in 2 panchayats via Veppampattu and Ayatur

Fellow school mates being enlightened in our school assembly

Glimpsing through the work

Interactive session with Director, CSP

At CSP

Creating slogans and placards

Creating awareness among the devotees

At the agricultural field

Session by professor, Wild life, MVC

Slogans படமெ�டுத்துஆடும்பம்பைபரசி�ப்போபம்! பயமெ�டுத்து

அடிப்பபை�ஒழி�ப்போபம்!

கட்பைடஇருப்பபோ� கனம், அபை� பை�த்துஅழி�க்கபோ� பம்புஇனம்

பம்புக்குபண்புண்டு! பய"ர்கபை$ பதுகக்கும்அன்புண்டு

பம்புக்குஉண்டுமெபர�ய பற்கள்- அபை�பர்த்�வுடன்எடுக்கபோ�

கற்கள்

Impacts

People from 2 panchayats enlightened on conservation of snake and its role in food grain conservation

300 people learned the importance of snake conservation through this initiative – these people promised to educate their neighbours

School children pledged to support the cause by not hurting snakes and chameleons for entertainment sake

Link to watch the video of our activities http://youtu.be/CfoRYiNLR7M

The Way Ahead

Continuous effort to maintain the ecological balance is need of the hour

Insisting the forest department to carry out snake census to get real picture about the population of different snakes

Our initiative shall so continue after the completion of DFC

Painting following quote on walls through stencil work

" பம்புகபை$அழி�ப்பது, நாபோ�உணவு�ன�ய மெபருட்கபை$ அழி�ப்ப�ற்குஒப்பகும்"

Learnings

How to approach experts related to our work area

Platform to deep understanding about snakes

Explored our talents in terms of slogan writing & public addressing skill and community organizing skill

Thanks to event organizers for given wonderful chance for being change maker and standing as “real heroes”

Sincere thanks to

Dr. K.Senthilkumar, Asst. professor, Dept. of Wild life science, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai

http://www.tanuvas.tn.nic.in/faculty/senthilkumar_k.html

Dr. Raja Ratnam, Director, Chennai Snake Park, Guindy National park, Chennai

Mr. Kannan, Head, Web studio, IITM, Chennai

Principal Shri. Dhayalan,, Govt. High School, Veppampattu