Kerala to bring in learning course, license for snake catchers

Konni (Pathanamthitta): The Kerala Forest Department is gearing up to launch a learning course in snake catching and make licence mandatory for snake catchers. The syllabus for the same has been prepared. Y Muhammas Anwar, Assistant Director of Kerala Forest Training Institute in Arippa, has been appointed as nodal officer.

From now on, only those with certificates will be allowed to catch snakes. A case will be registered as per Wildlife Act, if violated.

It has been decided to conduct classes on snake catching in all forest divisions in Kerala.

Course in snake catching

In the first phase, DFOs, beat forest officers and watchers of forest department will be admitted to the course. In the next phase, volunteers and those interested in snake catching will be trained. Theory and practical classes will be given. Different types of snakes, their characteristics and how to deal with it will be taught. Certificates will be awarded when one passes the course with a certain percentage.

The decision was taken to bring in these changes after the sensational Uthra murder case and the Varkala incident where a youth was bitten to death by a snake while trying to catch.

There are more than 100 species of snakes seen in Kerala. Out of them, 20 are venomous. The bite of five among them - King cobra, cobra, two types of viper and common krait, can lead to death.

King cobra is mainly spotted near forest regions.