It’s raining creepy crawlies

Saturday, July 04, 2009
Residents spot reptiles in homes, hit panic button. Activists release advisory

Thane / Mulund
Narayan Rajpal had an uninvited guest at his Mulund home last Sunday- a brown, eight-feet long rat snake. The creepy crawly wasn’t a party pooper, it showed up accidentally.

“I was sitting outside my home relaxing, since it was a Sunday,” said Rajpal. “Around 11 in the morning, I sensed a movement under a nearby tree and saw a eight-feet long rat snake. I immediately alerted my family.”

The reptile was rescued by volunteers from Plant and Animals Welfare Society, Mumbai (PAWS-mumbai).Rajpal owns a row house and spotting snakes during the monsoon is a common phenomenon.So habituated is Rajpal to such visits that he can now identify snakes and even tell a poisonous one from the other.

“A few years ago, we concretised this ground,” said Rajpal. “The earth below heats up due to the cement. So, for the last few years we have snakes visiting us. Two years age, a pair of cobras popped up.”

Though the rains haven’t announced their formal arrival, snake catchers in Thane, Mulund and Bhandup are already receiving calls from residents, asking them to rescue reptiles from their homes. No wonder animal activists are busy these days.“I rescued 16 snakes in three days. Of these, eight snakes were rescued when the city had its first pre-monsoon showers on June 20,” said Anil Kubal, a Thane resident. “We rescued poisonous varieties like Russell’s vipers, bit vipers and cobras.”

Non-poisonous snakes like rat snakes, checkered kill bags, bronzed back tree snakes, trinkets and common waters snakes between Thane and Ghodbunder were also rescued.

Sunish Subramanian, President of PAWS-Mumbai, rescued two, while Dharnendra Sanghvi of Karuna, an environmental NGO rescued two. Mayur Kamath, renowned activist, too, rescued four snakes.

“This is the mating season, so they come out of their burrows,” said Kamath. “They enter people’s homes n search of warmth after heavy rainfall.” Animal activists are all ready with their volunteers and equipment.

“Every snake friend must take along a volunteer while rescuing a snake because in case of a snake bite, the volunteer can administer the first-aid kit is also mandatory while on a snake rescue mission.”

SOME GYAAN ON REPTILIA

To prevent snakes from crawling into your house
• Remove weeds and overgrown bushes as they provide reptiles an ideal hiding place.
• People having birds as pet should be extra careful.
• Make your house rodent-free.
• Trim branches that touch windows of your house.
• Fill all holes around your house.
• Fit nets on washroom windows and keep doors and windows closed.
• Do not allow any debris to pile up in building premises.

If at all a snake enters
• Do not panic or try to shoo the snake away, it can attack out of fright.
• Immediately call the nearest animal activist.
• Try to give them the exact description of the snake so they can identify its type.
• Keep a watch on the snake till the experts arrive.

Common species found
Pythons, rat snakes, cobras, russell’s vipers, vine snakes, common sand boa, checkered kill bags and common water snakes.

Areas they frequent
• Rat snakes are the most common species and are found in Naupada and near the Thane railway station.
• Snakes also visit NCH Colony and Swapna Nagari in Bhandup. Cobras inhabit the mangroves and are thus common in Thane (E) and Kalwa.
• Kraits need natural habitat. They are found in the national park, Yeoor mountains and Ghodbander road.
• Chequered kill bags are found near water bodies.

First aid
• Clean the wound with a disinfectant. Do not use potassium permanganate.
• Tie a band above the wound. The knot should not be too tight to stop the blood flow. Place a pen or a finger on the wound and then tie a cloth above it.
• The patient must then get immediate medical treatment.
• Provide support to the patient to alleviate fear.

Call for help
• Sunish Subramanian 9833480388, 9892179542