From time immemorial, snakes have held a special place in our culture. It is believed that worshipping snakes helps gain knowledge, wealth and fame, and they are revered as symbols of the yogic power of Lord Shiva. But today, these animals have become victims of our idolisation and are being exploited – the reverence has now transformed into cruelty.

Snake charmers throng the streets of India with cobras and other snakes ensconced in cane baskets, asking for money. Devotees offer milk to the snakes and gather around to see the snake dance – a ritual in which snakes spread their hoods and sway to the tune of a pungi, a wind instrument.

It is believed that feeding milk to the snakes brings good fortune to the devotee, but these snakes suffer terribly and usually meet with an early death.

The Hidden Miseries

Once the snakes are captured from their homes in the forests, they are kept in tiny boxes or suffocating bags. The snake’s teeth are yanked out violently, their venom ducts are pierced with a hot needle and some snakes’ mouths are painfully sewn shut.

Snakes normally never drink milk, but the handlers starve them, denying them of any food or water. Thus, when milk is offered to the snake, they consume it thirstily, which later causes the snake severe dehydration, allergic reactions and often dysentery. Some time back, Kedar Bhide, an animal activist, found a blind snake. The reason for the blindness was that the toxic tikka that was applied to the snake’s hood during a worship ritual had trickled into his eyes, causing him to lose his sight.

Snakes are captured from their natural homes for other purposes as well. Their skins are made into leather purses or belts, while some snakes are sold to hospitals and colleges for dissection. Others spend miserable lives cramped in a dark box and taken out only for venom milking.

You Can Help

Today, thanks to the diligence of the public and animal welfare officers, snake charmers are decreasing in number. However, if you see a snake charmer, take the following steps:

• Boycott snake charmers. Encourage people to worship clay idols instead.
• Report the snake charmer to the police and insist that they contact a forest officer who will take custody of the snake.
• You can book a complaint against the snake charmer under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, Section 11, Subsection 1, which makes it illegal to torture or cause unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal; wilfully and unreasonably administer any injurious substance to an animal; keep or confine any animal to a cage or any other receptacle that does not give an animal reasonable opportunity for movement and to fail to provide sufficient food, water or shelter to an animal in one’s care.
• As per the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, it is a crime to catch snakes, use them in business or even own them.
• For more information, please visit www.PETAIndia.com.