'Rat Snake': Kerala Wildlife Board considers proposal to declare Ptyas mucosa official state reptile; helps control crop-damaging rats in farmlands
KOCHI: The state board for wildlife will consider the proposal for declaring the Rat Snake (Chera in Malayalam) as the official reptile of the state, considering its ecological importance.
The Rat Snake, Ptyas mucosa, is a non-venomous snake that plays a key role in controlling the population of rats that damage agricultural crops in farmlands.
As a carnivore, the Rat Snake also consumes young venomous snakes. Known as the 'friend of farmers', Rat Snakes have great conservation importance, notes the proposal at the board meeting to be convened on Wednesday.
By declaring it as the official reptile of the state, it will help this species to be brought under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, which will give it the highest level of protection with the harshest penalties for violation.
Currently, it is under Schedule 2 of the act, which gives the species a slightly lower level of protection.
"There is a misconception that snakes are dangerous to humans and cause hardships for us. However, in reality, snakes control the rat population, which is itself caused by our mismanagement of waste disposal. Humans do not come under the food chain of snakes. They bite people for defence when they feel threatened. Regarding Rat Snakes, common people know Chera is not dangerous and is beneficial to them.
Kerala
witnesses over 100 to 200 snake bite incidents.
by Taboola
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But casualties are very few as we have a good healthcare system with better access to antivenom treatment. Despite this awareness, some people resort to unscientific treatment for poisoning, which eventually results in the deaths of patients every year. Nowadays, the SARPA program of the Forest Department plays a big role in creating awareness of the importance of conserving snakes, and they soon call a rescuer for catching snakes," says Sandeep Das, Biologist.
"We have an official state animal, state bird, state fish, butterfly, tree, and so on. But we do not have an official state reptile, and that's why we proposed the Rat Snake to be declared as the official state reptile. It will give more conservation value to that species, which in reality plays a high ecological value. Its habitat is human habitations, not forests," said a forest official.
Besides this, the board will also consider a proposal to rechristen the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary to Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary on the 25th anniversary of the sanctuary. The renaming is considering its vital role in serving as a major host of migrating Albatross butterflies every year. The sanctuary witnesses a mass migration of butterflies between December and February because of the unique ecosystem.
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