WHEN URBANIZATION INVADES THEIR HABITAT, CAN SNAKES COHABIT WITH HUMANS?

On one rainy Sunday afternoon aptly termed “Snake Season” by one speaker, herpetologists, scientists, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts gathered together at Holiday Inn Airport, Kolkata to attend “Let Us Co-live Together” by Jain Group.

Held on 5^th July’26, “Let Us Co-live Together” turned out to be an engrossing session on a contemporary situation in New Town- Rajarhat around increasing human-snake conflicts. This area has witnessed rapid urbanization in the past couple of decades leading to rapid depletion of wildlife – including snakes – leading to faunal forms exhibiting a higher propensity of conflict with humans than before, and vice versa. Doubtless, a scenario that is being played out in several urban and semi-urban zones in the country.

“Let Us Co-live Together” aimed to underline the fact that these ectothermic reptiles are simply animals like others trying to adapt to the massive human-induced shift in their environment in recent years. If development compels humankind to invade wildlife strongholds, the least we, as humans, can do is be aware and alert about ways to “co-live together.”

The inaugural speaker of the session, Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director – Zoological Survey of India, lightheartedly remarked how the entertainment industry in India has glorified snakes and made them larger-than-life, infinitely fearsome and lethal. However, in reality this is certainly not the case as only a small percentage of snakes are venomous. India, as a nation, has had a long religious and cultural association with snakes which is one of the precise reasons why we should continue to treat them as vital members of a healthy ecosystem. Snake bites from venomous snakes can lead to disfigurement and disability and even death. Awareness is paramount, therefore, to understand how to avoid snakebites and what to do in the case of an unfortunate situation.

In her speech, Dr. Banerjee said, “ZSI works on a multi-pronged programme that aims to protect citizens through outreach events that incorporate policy intervention and awareness of health and medical facilities for humans on the one hand, as well as arrest snake mortality caused from half-knowledge and sheer panic of humans on the other.” ZSI’s team of reptilian experts work on gathering the latest details and data on known species and as well as discovering new ones. It is an ongoing drive in the organization to enable humans and snakes to “co-live together”, she added.

Mr. Tarunjyoti Tewari, MLA – West Bengal from Rajarhat- Gopalpur assembly constituency, an ardent wildlife photographer himself, begun his speech with the profound Native American quote – “Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish has been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.” A local, he recounted how he has observed many birds and animals disappearing over the years from Rajarhat – Gopalpur area as human settlements kept invading their habitats. He felt this was essentially because humans were supposedly the superior race and wildlife had been unable to hold its own against the onslaught. But the situation could have been managed to ensure human-wildlife coexistence, he said.

Mr. Tewari stressed the importance of giving each wild animal its due and cited examples of how he has personally witnessed peaceful co-existence of humans and wild animals in remote villages in West Bengal – a possibility worthy of replication in suitable ways elsewhere.

While it is true that India records the highest number of deaths caused by snake bites, it is equally shocking that countless non-venomous snakes are eliminated out of sheer panic. “Awareness, especially among the masses who have the highest possibility of encountering venomous snakes, coupled with increased medical facilities in far-flung rural areas are requisites to ensure humans and snakes are able to “co-live together”, said Mr. Tarunjyoti Tewari.

Mr. Shiladitya Chaudhury, Director – Sagittarius and Editor- Environ, wildlife photographer and a keen naturalist, said that the theme of the talk show organized by the Jain Group was eminently pertinent as it was related to the issue of human- wildlife conflict currently taking place on the fringes of the city. Snakes, that had absolute right of passage in a locality as Rajarhat-Gopalpur earlier, had run out of living spaces owing to urbanization. This had led to the inevitable situation of a conflict resulting in increased number of snake bites. Both humans and snakes were caught in the vortex of confusion and fear and the situation was detrimental to both groups.

He mentioned that statistics were often inaccurate as not all snake bites are reported, so it is possible that we do not know accurately how many are affected by snake bites. The need of the hour is to explore ways and means so both forms of life are able to co-live together, and for awareness to prevent and deal with snakebite, Mr. Chaudhury said.

This was followed by a sticker unveiling of the theme, “Let Us Co-live Together”.

Mr. Rishi Jain, Director – Jain Group, echoed the sentiments of the earlier speakers and stressed how as a business establishment, the Jain Group is committed to protecting the environment and various forms of floral and faunal life. Jain Group, he said, is a forward-thinking company that has inclusive development at its heart. In Durgapur, the Jain Group has planted a Miwaki forest inside their Dream Eco City residential project. The Miwaki forest model enables an appropriate water-soil balance to promote the growth of lush vegetation that in turn becomes the home of myriad faunal life forms. The Jain Group’s primary properties in Joka, Dream World City and Dream Diamond, are high on extensive landscaping and plentiful eco-friendly features. He looks forward, therefore, to the solution of mitigation of human-animal conflict and purposeful living for humans and peaceful existence of animals.

Husband and wife duo from the leadership team of Monosha Biotech, Mr. Saurabh Ray and Ms. Neha Garodia treated listeners to some eye-openers in the realm of serpents and present-day human- snake conflicts in urban and semi-urban areas. They emphasized how fear psychosis is a predominant factor that hugely intensifies loss of lives in snake bites. In the unfortunate case of a snake bite, the sheer terror of the event floods the victim’s body with adrenaline and intensifies heart palpitations, rapid breathing and fainting all of which could lead to heart failure, syncope, paralysis, and even death. Their presentation included slides on identification of venomous species in the Indian subcontinent, different activity levels and periods depending on the time of day or season; they explained how even a miniscule alteration of temperature affects them and controls their energy as they are ectothermic animals. The presentation ended with basic tips on snakebite management.

Mr. Ardhendu Das Mahapatra, the final speaker for the session, a PhD scholar in the Reptilia Section, Zoological Survey of India, gave a riveting presentation of how social media is awash with myths pertaining to snakes – which are fake. He showed how snake charmers and traditional shamans and healers use traditional and spiritual practices to deal with snakebites. While some cultures have relied on them for centuries, opting for such treatment instead of modern medicine can prove to be fatal in case of venomous snakes. He highlighted doable ways to prevent snakebites like using the right footwear and gloves when walking through dense vegetation or snake-infested areas. He also presented slides on how one can distinguish commonly-found snakes in our region.

There are numerous legends in South Asia, including India, around snakes. A common one in the Indian subcontinent is that of the ‘Nagamani’, a mythical dazzling gem that grows inside the hood of the cobra. According to folklore, whoever possess this gem receives immense power, wealth, and protection. Another is that a snake remembers it attacker, holds a terrible grudge against him and goes hunting to seek revenge no matter what the obstacles. Both, as experts explained, are complete myths.

Jain Group’s “Let Us Co-live Together” ended with the overarching premise to make oneself more aware, dismiss myths and superstitions, and eliminate unnecessary panic when dealing with snakes. In the end, to quote one of the speakers, “Snakes are very shy and they usually want to hide from you. They prefer to run away before you even see them. Keep snakes away by removing what they want – mice, frogs, bugs, pots and pans with stagnant water, and hiding spots. That’s the best and natural way to keep them at bay.”