Delhi’s encounters with snakes shot up by more than 60% since 2015
NEWDELHI: With the national Capital concreting whatever remains of its green patches, the encounters of Delhi residents with snakes, including deadly ones such as cobra and kraits, are increasing every year.
The data available with a citybased NGO, dealing with rescue of wild animals when they stray into human habitat, states that such encounters have shot up by more than 60% since 2015, particularly during the monsoon months.
What is more worrisome is that more than 70% of these snakes were spotted in houses and residential complexes in areas such as Greater Kailash, Vasantviharanddwarka among others, before they could be captured.
“Incidents of snake encounters have been increasing over the past few years. The total number of snakes rescued in the months of June and July in 2015 was 59.
This year, the figure in these two months have shot up to 99. This doesn’t mean that population of snakes is going up; it just means that our conflicts with snakes are on the rise,” said Kartick Satyanarayan, chairman of the NGO, Wildlife SOS.
Among the snakes that have been rescued, the maximum are spectacled cobra, common krait, More than 70% of the snakes were captured from residential complexes in areas like GK 1, 2 and 3, Vasant Vihar, JNU, Chhatarpur, Sainik Farms, Noida
At least 30 species of snakes are found in Delhi, of which only four — spectacled cobra, common krait, saw scale viper and Russell's viper — are venomous
Experts say construction activities, destruction of forest and falling prey base are pushing snakes into human habitats. June 2018
2017 2016 2015 July python, Indian rat snake, common sand boa, wolf snake and black headed royal snake, among others.
“Of the 99 snakes we have rescued this season (June and July), 74 were captured from houses and residential complexes, while around eight were captured from schools and educational institutes. At least 12 were caught from office buildings,” he added. A Python rescued by Wildlife SOS.
The maximum calls were received from areas such as Dwarka, Chhatarpur, Sainik Farm, JNU, Noida, Greater Kailash-1, 2, 2, and Vasant Vihar, among others.
Experts said that it is mainly because of rampant construction and destruction of the city’s green patches that snakes and other animals are losing their habitats and entering human habitats.
Don’t tie the wound with a rope or cut it
Don’t have stimulants such as coffee or tea
Try to tell the doctor if you can identify the snake as it would save valuable time.
Also, more people are now reporting these wildlife encounters instead of killing the animals.
“Destruction of dense forest patches and construction activities are primarily responsible for this. Most of these areas in Delhi, from where the snakes have been found, are either near some forest area or are undergoing heavy construction activities such as Noida. During construction, the ground is dug deep and this destroys the snake’s habitat. They then try to take shelter in houses,” said Surya Prakash, a scientist with the School of Life Sciences in JNU.
The India State of Forest Report 2017, published in February 2018, says that even though Delhi’s forest cover and tree count have increased marginally in the past two years, the city has lost portions of its thick forest during the same duration.
“While very dense forest cover has more than 70% canopy, medium dense forest cover has a canopy of 40% to 70%. These are habitats for wildlife and excellent carbon sinks. Losing them is not a good sign for any city,” said an official of the Forest Survey of India, which prepared the report.
“Climate change could be one of the many factors. Snakes are cold-blooded animals and, hence, their activities depend much on the ambient weather. During winter, they hibernate and, during summer and monsoon, t hey become active. Another reason is the fall in their prey base. Rampant construction activities are not just destroying the habitats of snakes but even that of other smaller animals such as rodents, which forms the prey base of snakes. Snakes could be coming out more often to find food,” said Dr Debanik Mukherjee, a reptile specialist with the Aravalli Biodiversity Park. NEWDELHI: No spirituality can be attached to criminal activities, the Delhi High Court said on Monday, observing it was “unfortunate and painful” that a 108-foot Hanuman statue was allowed to be raised on public land’s pavement in the city.
The court, which had earlier directed the CBI to probe how the famous Hanuman statue came to be built on public land in Karol Bagh, asked the agency to ensure the matter is dealt with seriously and stringent action is taken against all the lawbreakers.
A bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said if prosecution is launched against any person, the court concerned shall ensure the matter is dealt with expeditiously and guilty are brought to book. The court said a “very unfortunate” stand was taken by land owning agencies as none have said the land belongs to them. The court appointed senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and advocate Gautam Narayan as amicus curiae. It asked the DDA to file a status report and listed it till September 6.
MANANIMAL CONFLICT Destruction of dense forests and construction activities are responsible, say experts