AGRA: Over 50 snakes were seized from the illegal custody of snake charmers outside temples across Agra, in a day long anti-poaching raid carried out by the forest department in association with an NGO, Wildlife SOS on Monday.A four member team from Wildlife SOS and two forest officers conducted a series of raids in the city, during which they seized 53 snakes from the premises of Prithvinath temple Rawli temple , Rajeshwari temple, Mankameshwar temple and Kailash temple.A total of 43 cobras, 5 common sand boas, 3 red sand boas and 2 rat snakes have been rescued and transferred to the Wildlife SOS rescue facility.The snakes are currently under the care and treatment of Wildlife SOS.According to forest officials, Monday marked the last day of ‘Shravan Somvar’ and as devotees across Agra city flocked the temples to pay homage to Lord Shiva, saperas (snake charmers) took to the streets with their flutes and baskets full of snakes to take advantage of the devotees’ beliefs and extract money from them.( Photo courtesy: Wildlife SOS )This has turned into a lucrative business, where every year, thousands of snakes are poached from the wild, defanged brutally and then kept hungry for months before the festival."Using snakes for public demonstration is a punishable offence and is banned according to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Government of India’s notification in 2014 ,” said Mukesh Kumar Sharma, Divisional Forest Officer, AgraKartick Satyanarayan, Co-founder CEO of Wildlife SOS, said “Snake charming is not enchanting, or brave and there are no skills involved in this practice. This is extremely crude and painful for the snake as its venom glands and fangs are pulled out. Since the venom is actually a snake’s digestive juice, the snake suffers a terrible plight and eventually succumbs to death due to indigestion. Non venomous snakes like the sand boas and rat snakes are not spared either. Their mouths are stitched shut, making it impossible for them to eat.”( Photo courtesy: Wildlife SOS )Earlier this month 21 snakes were rescued from a temple premises in Mathura. The act of charming a snake with a flute or pungi is based on incorrect facts. Snakes are able to sense vibration but they don’t have the outer ear to hear music.Wildlife SOS officials urge tourists and locals alike to never encourage the use of any animal for entertainment, display and performances for money. Giving alms to snake charmers or paying to watch an animal perform only encourages the brutal treatment of the animal and promotes illegal possession of wildlife and the continuity of cruelty towards animals.

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