MOHALI: The Ropar wildlife division, department of forests and wildlife preservation, Punjab, conducted a training on snakes and reptile encounters for residents of ATS Mohali on Sunday. After a series of snake sighting and potential life-threatening incidences, this workshop was expected to help dwellers to act appropriately and not to panic in such dire situation.
The 2-hour workshop was held at the Club House of ATS, Mohali was conducted by the wildlife experts where they explained the reasons of reptile and snake sighting¸ suitable actions to be taken and strategies and ways to avoid such encounters.
Dr Monika Yadav, DFO (wildlife), Ropar, said she had received a request for guidance and help and she feels honoured to help the citizens with the best of the resources. Dr Yadav also emphasised that snakes are not enemies of the mankind, but it’s the mankind who misunderstands them.
People are unaware of reptile-behaviour and see them as venomous creatures with maleficent intentions always looking out to bite humans or swallow their pets, which, in fact is a highly conditioned myth. She said, “With or without snake-sighting, we should be well aware of our surroundings as well as animal behaviour because whether we want or not, we have to share this planet with them and they are as vital as the mankind.”
“The beginning of the series of advanced workshop on snakes/ reptiles — ‘Man/Hood’ — depicts the age-old conflict between humans and snakes and that the manhood demands a compassionate, thought-through, educated and fair attitude towards snakes that are killed only due to our lack of knowledge and right conduct,” the DFO added.
Honorary wildlife warden Nikhil Sanger educated the society residents about humansnake conflicts and the various factors behind it. He said snake is a born predator and like any other carnivore, it has its own skill set which it uses to find a potential prey. “Thus, the onus is on us to keep areas garbage free so that rodents can be avoided,” he said. He also enlightened the audience about the most venomous snakes in India that are responsible for maximum number of deaths.
Wildlife rescuer Manik Kapoor, who was the also the speaker at the workshop, shared many eye-opening facts, busting myths about reptiles that contribute to the deadly conflict between man and snakes.
Dr Monika Yadav invited the public to contact the department at dfowildliferupnagar@gmail.com to conduct such workshops on humanreptile conflict.
