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Time of India
19-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Over 5,000 snakes rescued in six months across Telangana
Hyderabad: Friends of Snakes Society (FOSS), in collaboration with the Telangana forest department, rescued 5,954 snakes across Telangana between Jan 1 and June 30 this year. Of these, 3,337 were venomous and 2,617 non-venomous, with all safely relocated to forest habitats after identification. The majority of venomous snakes rescued were Spectacled Cobras (2,970), followed by Russell's Vipers (344) and Common Kraits (23). Non-venomous species included Indian Rat Snakes, Checkered Keelbacks, Bronzeback Tree Snakes, Indian Rock Pythons, Red Sand Boas, and Barred Wolf Snakes. The organisation, which marked its 30th anniversary on June 30, also conducted over 200 awareness sessions in schools, colleges, forest and police academies, and rural areas during the same period. The workshops reached over 40,000 people, focusing on snake ecology, encounter safety, first aid for snake bites, and debunking myths. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad To mark three decades of operations and in the run-up to World Snake Day on July 16, FOS announced 'Snakebite Mitigation Initiative', aimed at curbing snakebite deaths in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh by 2030. As part of the initiative, FOS will launch a new public website, on July 16. The platform will offer a 24/7 snake identification cell, first-aid protocols, a venomous snake distribution map, and a hospital locator for bite victims. 'Snakebite is a preventable public health issue. Through this initiative, we hope to bridge the information gap and save lives,' said Avinash Visvanathan, general secretary, Friends of Snakes Society.


The Hindu
16-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
56% of snakes rescued in Telangana so far are venomous
A total of 5,954 snakes were rescued across Telangana between January 1 and June 30, 2025, by Friends of Snakes Society (FOS) in coordination with the Telangana Forest Department. Of them, 56% (3,337) of them were venomous and the rest were non-Venoumous, which were relocated to suitable forest habitats. 'Majority of the rescues happen in Hyderabad and surrounding districts of Medchal-Malkajgiri, Rangareddy, Medak, and Hyderabad,' said Avinash Visvanathan, FOS's general secretary. Among venomous species, the Spectacled Cobra accounted for the majority of cases, with 2,970, followed by 344 Russell's Vipers and 23 Common Kraits. Non-venomous rescues included commonly encountered species such as the Indian Rat Snake, Checkered Keelback, and Bronzeback Tree Snake, along with rarer species like the Indian Rock Python, Red Sand Boa, and Barred Wolf Snake. Besides the rescue work, FoS conducted over 200 snake awareness workshops, reaching over 40,000 individuals at schools, colleges, police and forest academies, public institutions, and rural communities. The focus was on the ecological importance of snakes, safe practices during snake encounters, first aid for snakebites, and debunking prevalent myths. The society's 24/7 helpline number is 8374233366.