No LIVE snakes worship on NAGPANCHAMI day in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Thane

11 August 2013 Sunday : Its Nagpanchami day, Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai) have setup a special team of volunteers to check cruelty to snakes on this occasion. Team have checked  various places like temples,  railway stations, railway bridges and other public place where in past snake charmers used to spot with live snake in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai & Thane areas, but its good sign not a single live snake worship spotted by the team this year. It’s all because of awareness created by animal welfare organizations in past for many years.

But team only received call for venomous snake been spotted in public place where children are playing, team immediately reached the spot and have rescued the 2 snake, both are belongs to same species, which is one of the venomous snake found in the city that is Russell’s Viper and it is baby around 1 to 2 feet long, later immediately released into natural habitat which is protected by forest department.

About Russell’s Viper : It’s Venomous

Identification : Russell’s viper has a stout, round body with thin and short tail. It has a flat and triangular head, vertical pupils, large nostrils with small scales on top with large nostrils. The body colour is brown with three rows of dark brown colour along the length.

Habitat / Habits : Russell’s viper is commonly found in anthills, rat holes, fields and grasslands. When in danger it makes a frightening loud hissing sound. Russell’s viper is the dangerously fast striker. It mainly feeds on rats.

PAWS-Mumbai is an registered organization working for the cause of animal welfare and environment protection since 2002 and recognized by Animal Welfare Board of India, you can contact them at PAWS-Mumbai Helpline +91 9833480388.

 *All the snakes are protected under the WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT, 1972 and keeping it in custody, live snake display in public under the name of awareness or extracting venom is an offence to.