Hyderabad: Naga Panchami is a festival that involves the worship of snakes. However, ahead of this festival, it also involves the mistreatment of snakes, especially cobras, by snake charmers.
The Greater Hyderabad Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GHSPCA) said it has rescued 4,746 snakes and released them into the wild after treating them. Most harm caused to snakes on this festival stems from people’s superstition that snakes have milk, though which is not their diet.
The society has already started their rescue operation. It also asked people to inform them if they find a snake charmer in their area on 8886743881, 9394578568 and 9490149601.
It said that all actions that cause harm to snakes are illegal under the Wildlife Protection Act and carry strict penalties. Organisations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will conduct raids to rescue snakes on Naga Panchami.
