I HAVE closely observed snakes for a long time. I have handled them, rescued them and trans-located them from places where they came in close contact with human beings. When I started understanding snakes, I started to protect them and discouraged their killing.

All snakes are not poisonous, and only a small percentage of them are dangerous. Snakes are usually nocturnal and avoid coming close to humans. When approached they try to move away. If they are surprised, they usually emit a warning call like hissing, before biting the victim which if heeded gives time to avoid the next step, so tread carefully in dark places at night. The use of a torch or lantern is advised. A walking stick moved ahead from left to right can make a safe path.

Snakes play an important role in nature. Their natural prey is rats and mice, whose numbers they keep under check and control. Mice and rats feed on food grain, and large quantities of food are lost to them. They visit garbage dumps and snakes come to prey on them.

If a person is bitten by a snake, he should be taken to a doctor at the earliest and be treated as per the doctor’s advice. However, if along with the victim the snake is also cornered and killed and brought in is a big help as the doctor can ascertain if the reptile is poisonous or otherwise. More importantly the reptile will help determine whether the venom is haemotoxic or neurotoxic, and the victim treated accordingly.

Col (r) Sheikh Mohammad Wasim

Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2018