Snake Buddies: This NGO Works To Save Snakes From Being Killed

The organisation attends to around 200 calls every day, asking them to rescue snakes that wander into urban spaces.

Friends of Snakes Society holds several educational and awareness programs in schools, colleges and companies. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

In the late 1980s, Hyderabad-resident Rajkumar Kanuri and his friends decided they had to do something to conserve the reptile population in ever-expanding urban spaces.

Almost 30 years later, what started off as a small experiment in Secunderabad's Sainikpuri area, is now a well-known NGO that works for the conservation of snakes in Telangana.

The Friends of Snakes Society (FOSS) attends almost 200-300 distress calls every day.

The organisation has around 70 volunteers and a 24x7 helpline, which puts them just a call away. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

Besides the rescue and relocation of the reptiles, the FOSS also holds several educational and awareness programs in schools, colleges and companies, besides working with the Forest Department to curb anti-poaching activities.

"By around 1992-93, we started holding several awareness programs, busting myths that people generally have, where snakes are concerned. In 1995, we formally registered the organisation," Avinash Visvanathan, Chief Functionary of the organisation told TNM.

Most snakes in India are non-venomous, and often pay the cost for human ignorance, the organisation says. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

Also Read: Newspaper Salesman Shows Impressive Snake Handling Skills

Avinash says that the initial days were tough, and their activities were restricted just to Secunderabad until around 2000.

Our initial movement grew only through word of mouth. If someone found a snake, someone would inform them that there was this group that rescued them, and they would pass the message to someone else and so on.

Avinash Visvanathan, FOSS Chief Functionary

"It was very restricted in the initial days. When we had grown to around 20-30 members, the media picked up on us, and this gave us a major boost," he adds.

In 2010, the organisation was dealt a personal blow when its founder, Rajkumar Kanuri, passed away due to cerebral malaria.

In 2010, the organisation was dealt a personal blow when its founder, Rajkumar Kanuri, passed away due to cerebral malaria. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

"We lost a great leader with an even better outlook. It did come as a shock to us, but the organisation has continued growing," says Avinash.

Today, the organisation has around 70 volunteers and a 24x7 helpline, which puts them just a call away.

Two people coordinate the helpline, and the organisation has spread its roots to five districts in Telangana, besides having a firm foothold in Hyderabad.

In October last year, when a snake brought things to a halt in Hyderabad's crowded KBR park junction, it was the FOSS that stepped in to diffuse the situation.

Even during the heavy rains that lashed Hyderabad last year, when several people found large snakes entering their houses along with the flood water, it was the FOSS that stepped in and worked tirelessly to rehabilitate several of these reptiles.

Also Read: Two Brothers and Their Strange Obsession With Snakes

The FOSS wants to change the apathy that people have towards snakes. Most snakes in India are non-venomous, and often pay the cost for human ignorance, the organisation says.

Rescuing a cobra from the premises of the High Court. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

An awareness program at the Hyderabad zoo. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

Relocating a giant python. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

Regular awareness sessions have certainly helped a lot since we first set up. At least now, people call us, instead of looking for a stone or stick to kill the snake.

Avinash

When asked about FOSS' future plans, he adds, "We are in no hurry to expand, but we do want to cover the entire state of Telangana, before branching out to other places."

The FOSS helpline can be contacted at [phone].

(The story first appeared on The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)