In a decade, Hyderabad-based Friends of Snake Society rescued more than 75,000 reptiles

Hyderabad: In a unique achievement in snake conservation, over the last decade, Hyderabad-based Friends of Snake Society (FOSS) in collaboration with wildlife authorities has managed to successfully rescue and rehabilitate more than 75,000 snakes.
Decadal data shows a significant increase in snake conservation efforts, rising steadily from 3,389 rescues in 2015 to 13,028 in 2024. This nearly four-fold increase also reflects the growing public awareness about snake conservation and the capabilities of snake societies, said Avinash Vishwanathan, general secretary of FOSS.
The substantial number of rescues encountered, averaging over 35 snakes per day, has also provided the Society’s animal volunteers with invaluable experience in safe snake handling and management.
“This expertise has resulted in the development of sophisticated rescue protocols and safety measures. “Despite the high-risk nature of snake rescue operations and the large number of venomous species encountered, FOS has maintained an exemplary safety record,” he said.
Taxonomic analysis of rescue data reveals important insights into urban herpetofauna demography. The spectacled cobra (Naja naja) contributed 47.5 per cent of the 6,186 individuals saved, while the Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosa) saved 3,120 (24 per cent).
“Our decade-long monitoring of seasonal snake activity patterns has yielded extensive data sets that we are currently analyzing for publication. This upcoming research will provide important insights into the temporal distribution patterns, species-specific behavioral adaptations and dynamics of human-snake conflict in urban ecosystems,” says Avinash.