I gravitate freely towards like-minded beings and actively seek opportunities to hang out with them. There is one exception though: Snakes. I often slink away and enjoy my own company in my burrow. Snakes treasure their privacy in a similar fashion. Despite this like-mindedness, I wouldn’t want a selfie with a cobra, a krait or a viper. But, as I am a resident of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), the odds are high that my paths will cross theirs someday. Herpetologist Gowri Shankar tells me that 18 years ago, when he would frequent these parts, OMR and East Coast Road (ECR) were crawling with snakes. Most significantly, localities along these two roads supported a sizeable population of the four venomous reptiles in these parts: cobra, Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper and krait. Due to rapid and persistent development, their numbers would have now dwindled. However, they are still present in significant numbers in the many reserve forests found in the region. “When their habitat is threatened, birds can fly to a new one. As snakes can’t fly, they are trapped. Snakes have two to three sq km as their home area. Among them, cobras cover more space and have five to six sq km as home area. In an urban setting, spaces of such size get developed.” When development is taking place, there is bound to be man-snake conflict. In OMR, this conflict is bound to be higher. For, there are many reserve forests, waterbodies and a huge marsh that are skirted by human habitations. “We have invited ourselves to their home. The snakes will do their best to keep their distance. We should do our bit to ensure this distance is maintained. It begins with awareness about the behaviour of snakes. If you keep your backyard clean and free of garbage, you will ensure snakes don’t cross your paths. Garbage will invite rodents. And snakes will flock where rodents are found. It is also necessary to have knowledge of local snakes, venomous and non-venomous,” says Gowri Shankar. And, when people live in spaces bordering reserve forests, they would do well to have the contact numbers of nearby Government hospitals at hand. For, these hospitals stock antivenom vials to treat snake bites. “It is better to call the hospital and find out what type of antivenom is in stock. This information will be crucial if the victim is unable to identify the snake. For, a monovalent antivenom counters the bite of only that species whose venom was used in producing the antivenom. In the GHs in Chennai, polyvalent antivenom in stock will counter bite from any of the four venomous snakes found in the region. Normally, polyvanent antivenom should be in stock in all GHs. Still, it is better to make a call and find out before heading to any of them,” says Gowri Shankar. It is also necessary to have the contact numbers of the Forest Department, which will relocate snakes. Gowri Shankar discusses reptilian matters at his blog: www.pogirigowrishankar.wordpress.com

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