Lok Sabha Question No. 937 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-18
Subject: Snake Charmers
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## 937. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that catching of snakes owning them or exploiting them for commercial purposes by snake charmers is a crime under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken note of an incident involving the death of girl by a snake bite in Kerala recently, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the steps proposed by the Government to do away the illegal practice of owning, breeding and sale of snakes by unauthorised persons?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

- (a) &(b) Yes,Sir.Snakes  are  protected  under  the  Wild  Life  (Protection)  Act,  1972  and  are listed  under  Schedule  I,  Part  II  of  Schedule  II  and  Schedule  IV  of  this  Act. According to Wild Life (Protection) Act, capturing, coursing, trapping the snakes and  even  disturbing  the  eggs  or  nest  of  the  snakes  amounts  to  hunting  which  is prohibited under Section 9 of the Act. Further, according to Section 42 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, no person shall keep in his custody or possession, sell or otherwise transport any animal mentioned in Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II, except with previous permission of Chief Wildlife Warden.

Chapter  VA  prohibits  the  trade,  commerce  of  animal  articles  derived  from  an animal including species of snakes listed in Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

- (c) Recently, on 21.11.2019,ShehanaSherin, 10 years old, d/o Aziz. N.V, NottenVeedu, Puthamkunnu, , P.O.  Wayand, a 5 th Std  Students  in  Government  Sarvajana  High School, SulthanBathery,  Waynad was bitten by a snake in her class room. She was first  taken  to  Taluk  Hospital,  Sulthan  Bathery  from  where  she  was  transferred  to Kozhikode  Medical  College  Hospital  for  better  treatment.  On  her  way,  her condition  worsened  and  she  was  admitted  to  Good  Shepherd  Hospital,  Vythiri. Shedied in the Hospital on the same day.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 937

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.09.2020

## Snake Charmers

- (d) Forest Department, Kerala has issued guidelines for scientific rescue and release of the snakes. A Mobile application called 'SARPA' (Snake Awareness, Rescue and Protection  Application)  has  been  developed  for  systemic  tracking  of  rescue  and release of snakes from human habitations. Further, to prevent capture and rescue of snakes  by  unauthorized  person,  and  the  possibility  of  misusing  them  in  illegal activities,  Kerala  Forest  Department  has  trained  about  318  frontline  staff  of  the Forest Department to engage them in scientific rescue of snakes. Rapid Response Teams have been deployed in each  district  which  are  also  involved  in  rescue  of snakes. Flying Squad Division and other territorial divisions are active in detection of  offences  related  to  illegal  catching  and  trading  of  snakes.  Several  cases  are registered against illegal sale of snakes in different parts of Kerala.