In Maharashtra, India, a permit allowing the capture of 41 cobras has reignited a dispute over wildlife protection and a sacred custom.
Here’s what to know
Mid-Day reported that the principal chief conservator of forests authorized the Sangli forest department to capture 41 male Indian cobras in Battis Shirala between Aug. 10 and 20 for educational purposes.
The move was challenged by Dhiraj Mirajkar, the forest department’s longtime legal adviser, who said the approval may have been a way around court restrictions on using live snakes during Nag Panchami, observed on Aug. 17.
Battis Shirala is known for Nag Panchami — a longstanding Hindu tradition centered on live snake worship. The practice has been prohibited since 2006 following a court challenge by wildlife activists.
India Times reported that snakes were used during Nag Panchami celebrations, but emphasized that the practice remains prohibited. Authorities emphasized that the exemption was strictly for educational purposes, not religious rituals, and that all the snakes would be released back into their natural habitat after the event.
A senior forest department official said, “We have placed one range forest officer for every four permit holders to monitor the capture, display and release. For every 10 permit holders, one veterinary doctor will be present. They should ensure the reptile is not harmed by any means and have to provide the report on its health before the release.”
Officials used photography and videography to track each capture and release, in addition to demonstrations.
Where can I learn more?
Stories from other parts of India show how quickly a cobra sighting can escalate into capture, relocation, and public alarm. They don’t speak directly to the permit dispute in Maharashtra, but they do offer a sense of the pressures facing people who handle venomous snakes near homes and neighborhoods.
• In Kota, residents panicked after cobras turned up in two homes, including one near ladoos.
• In Gujarat, rescuers safely returned the cobra to the wild after a home sighting.
• In Telangana, a snake catcher bagged a cobra for relocation after it entered grandparents’ house.
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