For self-attempt.
Report comes in support of snake charmers
By Our Staff Reporter
New Delhi, June 15. Over 30 years after the introduction of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) that banned the catching of snakes in India, a small community of snake charmers continues to practise the trade catching over 400,000 snakes every year — which ultimately die — in defiance of the law.
A report based on new research by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), however, has strongly recommended that the traditional knowledge of the snake charmers and skills be now utilised for education and medicine by setting up sapera centres. This is mainly because the community has virtually no access to land, education or employment opportunities. They are dependent on snake charming to earn a livelihood. They trade around as vendors of traditional medicine, snake catchers and musicians. Ignorance about the law is quite common.
The report entitled ‘Biodiversity, Livelihoods and the Law: The Case of the Jogi-Nath Snake Charmers of India’ based on path-breaking research was formally released by the Inspector General of Forests, V.K. Bahuguna, along with a presentation by members of the sapera community in the Capital on Monday.
“Despite thirty years of the law being in existence, over 70 per cent of the Jogi-Naths are still dependent on snake charming to earn a livelihood. Ignorance about the law was quite common. None of them own land, even though they would like to,” said Bahar Dutt, who led this research. Notably, most of those practising the trade in the current generation are all under 35 years of age.
Trapping occurs throughout the year and during their travels, though this activity increases during the monsoons. According to the data, each family on an average collects at least seven snakes.
Most snakes were force-fed and snake husbandry methods and health were found to be poor. “The snake charmers community council imposes a heavy fine on a person if the snake dies in his custody as it is considered an extremely bad omen. As a result, the snakes are released when the charmers realise that their condition is deteriorating,” said Dutt. Their ambition to showcase the reptiles and earn money was not fulfilled, as they flouted four WPA provisions, for illegally possessing the animals, not feeding them properly, causing injuries by extracting teeth unscientifically and killing snakes for the valuable snake parts and bones. Their offence generally invites imprisonment for three to seven years and a fine up to Rs 25,000 in each case.
“On the positive side researchers found that the snake charmers possess a unique ability to handle venomous snakes with a tremendous knowledge of the different species and their behaviour. They are also called by local farmers to retrieve snakes, who would otherwise just kill them, from agricultural fields or human inhabited areas,” she said.
We hope the NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 9 The Bond of Love help you. If you have any query regarding CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 9 The Bond of Love, drop a comment below and we will get back to you at the earliest.
Overview: The Bond of Love
Kenneth Anderson narrates how his wife adopted a sloth bear cub (Bruno, later called Baba) after Anderson accidentally shot its mother. Bruno became a beloved pet — eating everything, surviving two poisoning incidents, playing with dogs. When he grew too large, he was sent to Mysore Zoo, but both he and Anderson's wife were miserable. She visited, and Bruno hugged her, refusing to let go. She arranged to bring him home, where a special enclosure was built.
Key Points
- Bruno is a sloth bear cub adopted after his mother was shot
- Named Bruno, later affectionately called Baba
- Survived barium carbonate poisoning (rat poison)
- Survived engine oil poisoning
- Grew large — sent to Mysore Zoo for safety
- Both Bruno and the author's wife were miserable during separation
- At the zoo, Bruno immediately recognised her and hugged her
- She arranged to bring him home — special island enclosure built
- Theme: Human-animal bonds can be as deep as human bonds
- Raises ethical questions about keeping wild animals as pets
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