They are stored in clay pots and then venom is extracted. The fangs of the snakes are pressed against a piece of leather attached to a glass container. When the snake bites the leather, venom is extracted. It is a lengthy and laborious process. At the end of their stay, they are released back to the place they were originally captured.
Overheads are low and demand is high.
Since it is a co-operative, many of the profits are reinvested, and what's left is shared amongst the members. Snake catching is a family affair This has radically changed the lives of Rajamal and her family. From the co-operative we get money, and we also get a bonus for every snake that we catch. But by being a member of the society, he gets more money and more benefits. However, the co-operative's secretary Dravida Mani says one simple change in the law could bring the tribe even greater financial security.