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Reptile & Amphibian
News Blog Keep up with news and features of interest to the reptile and amphibian community on the kingsnake.com blog. We cover breaking stories from the mainstream and scientific media, user-submitted photos and videos, and feature articles and photos by Jeff Barringer, Richard Bartlett, and other herpetologists and herpetoculturists.
Friday, January 30 2015India's best wall-climbing snake is also its cutest
India's wall-climbing extreme athlete is also its cutest snake: The wolf snake, Lycodon aulicus.
 These snakes are quite aggressive and quick to bite, but they are non-venomous and their bite is just a prick -- which I know because I've been bitten many times. In fact, most of my friends think the wolf snake is "cute" when he bites! The common wolf snake is brown with white stripes on the back and beautiful irregular stripes on the sides. Some common wolf snakes are also black in colour and have yellow stripes instead of black, and their length varies from 50-80 cms. Many rescuers would agree with me that these snakes are quite restless, almost like a toddler running around,curious to find new and interesting things. In fact, their childlike nature is, to me, their most endearing quality!  I recently rescued a common wolf snake from one of my collegue's property. When I received the distress call, I guessed that the snake might be on the ground and it might be a rat snake or a cobra. Upon reaching his property, I was told the snake was on the second floor and that it had recently eaten a gecko. I was sure it was a wolf snake. I reached the second floor and I peeked over the wall and saw the wolf snake coiled in a corner. I caged the snake and left it near a river bank in about 15 minutes. It was a learning experience on the whole as unlike my previous experiences the snake didn’t attack much as it had ingested a good sized wall lizard. These non-venomous climbers are good predators and survivors, and to me, they are always beautiful and “cute” as well. Thursday, January 29 2015Hatchet-faced treefrogs are just right
The calls of the various anurans were almost deafening as we maneuvered the motor canoe in and out of the beds of floating water lettuce and hyacinths. Pings, squeaks, grunts, groans, beeps, and clicks of various pitches and intensities intermingle and require stopping and listening intently to sort out. Most of the callers were hylids (treefrog family) but occasionally a few leptodactylids (tropical frogs) would also call.
 Three of the frog species we were searching for were prominent in this chorus. They were the the 3 taxa of hatchet-faces, treefrogs of the genus Sphaenorhynchus. Although a rather silly analogy, I have come over the years to think of the 3 as the "3 bears" with Baby Bear being the 1" long S. carneus, Mama Bear being the slender 1 1/2" long S. dorisae, and Papa Bear being the robust 1 3/4" long S. lacteus. Despite being hylids, these 3 frogs are predominantly aquatic and large numbers of each may be found amidst the islands of aquatic vegetation (especially water lettuce) throughout the year. Besides the size difference, these 3 also differ in call and in appearance. The tiny S. carneus produces a series of rapidly repeated clicks and has reddish dorsolateral stripes. S. dorisae has a rounded snout and lacks striping and produces a series of pinging notes. And S. lacteus has a sharply pointed nose, white canthal (snout) stripes, and its call is a single cluck. Renewing our acquaintance with these 3 taxa and their fellow songsters is always one of the most enjoyable aspects of our Amazonian tours. And of course there always the chance of seeing a black caiman as well. This is herping at its neotropical best. Continue reading "Hatchet-faced treefrogs are just right" Tuesday, January 27 2015Will West Virginia turn the tide on anti-reptile legislation in 2015? In 2014, West Virginia enacted a Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) law that resulted in the proposal of a regulation/rule that would create an absurdly long list of DWAs. For example, the proposed DWA list initially included all turtles and salamanders (except native W. Virg. species). Months of hard work by reptile, amphibian, and other exotic owners in the state and across the U.S. has resulted in an opportunity to overturn West Virginia's DWA Act. On the third day of the 2015 legislation session, four senators submitted SB 247 to repeal the DWA Act. One of these senators had voted in favor of the DWA law in 2014. In a single sentence, SB 247 will remove every single word of the DWA Act as if it never existed. That will be a turning point for state legislation. USARK and its associated chapter in W. Virg. have been coordinating efforts to fight against the state’s DWA law and proposed rule for approximately 10 months. The opportunity to create a clear turning point in anti-reptile legislation is within reach. With their hundreds of millions of dollars, anti-pet groups like HSUS and PETA will certainly continue to campaign against your ownership of pet reptiles and amphibians. It is what they do. It is an integral part of their business model. The repeal of the DWA law in W. Virg. would set a precedent that would be very influential in our continued battles against our extremist animal rights adversaries. This is an opportunity for the reptile nation to make a big statement. The question is whether the reptile and amphibian owners in W. Virg. and across the U.S. will capitalize on this opportunity by actively engaging in the legislative process. How to help If you are a W. Virg. resident, you should sign up to help repeal the DWA Act by sending your contact information to wvusarc@gmail.com. USARK will be posting action alerts for everyone to help with repealing the Act, as well as responding to proposed legislation and regulations across the country. The first step for W. Virg. residents is to identify your senatorial district and your two senators. Please immediately call your senators and email them asking them to cosponsor SB 247. It would be helpful to add a note about how this law has upset your life. Also, please ask at least two of your exotic animal friends in W. Virg. to do the same thing, and for them to ask two more people (and so on), so we create a pyramid and each of the state's 34 senators is contacted multiple times by a constituent to sponsor SB 247. Fun as a barrel of barred monkey frogs
Where there once was a seasonally flowing stream there is now a reservoir several acres in size. In this newly formed water body there are spectacled caiman, giant arapaima, neotropical water snakes, and a vast number of giant monkey frog tadpoles.
And somewhere on the far side of the reservoir, well away from the station's buildings, perhaps in the shallows of the reservoir itself or maybe in a remote puddle, pond, or water-filled hollow log, there are probably barred monkey frog tadpoles, Phyllomedusa tomopterna.  At least there should be, for we have found several adults of this beautiful medium-sized hylid vocalizing from perches in reservoir-side shrubs and trees on the far banks. Phyllomedusa tomopterna attains a length of about 2 inches. At adulthood, males are the slightly smaller sex. Although variable, the dorsum is often a forest green. The throat and chest are white(ish) and the belly is orange. The sides are a richer orange than the belly and bear broad vertical bars of purple-black. Each heel bears an easily noticeable calcar (heel spur). The soft clucking notes of the males do not have much carrying power. These frogs are always eagerly sought on our tours and the search for them invariably introduces us to numerous other rainforest denizens. In fact, as you read this Patti and I will again be looking for this hylid in the rainforest of Amazonian Peru. Wish us luck. Continue reading "Fun as a barrel of barred monkey frogs" Friday, January 23 2015Courier no longer ships reptiles in UK International courier company TNT has announced it will no longer ship live reptiles in the UK for what it calls "health and safety reasons."Although the original announcement was made in October of last year, it was made so quietly hat many reptile hobbyists and businesses are only finding out about the change in policy now, when their packages are returned to them the following day by TNT drivers telling them that their depot was "no longer handling reptiles." I’m not sure what aspect of the reptile shipping service could be considered unhealthy or dangerous, but then I doubt if this is the real reason for the company’s change of policy. Whatever the reason, to those of us who understand reptile transportation protocols, the decision is crazy. I’ve written several magazine features about transporting and packing reptiles safely based on my experience of shipping many thousands of reptiles over several decades. To me it seems like a dumb decision, whichever way you look at it. According to a piece in UK pet trade publication PBW News, a TNT spokesman said, "The company has made the decision not to transport any animals due to health and safety reasons. As a result, we are not taking on any new customers in this area." In response to queries from Pet Business World about potential health and safety issues with transporting reptiles, Judith Hackitt, chairman of the Health and Safety Executive, said, "I see this time and time again, companies using health and safety as a blanket excuse and it’s got to stop. It is misleading for members of the public to constantly read headlines blaming non-existent health and safety laws for stopping people for going about their everyday business. It detracts from the real business of health and safety." North Carolina reptile ban hype, not reality An article about a supposed reptile ban has been making it's way around social media. It has a headline designed to frighten any herper: "BREAKING NEWS: NC Reptile Ban Legislation! HSUS to Push for Dangerous Wild Animal Legislation in NC; Boas, Pythons and Venomous at Risk." Sounds really ominous, doesn’t it?The article was based on information posted on the website of Carolina Tiger Rescue (CTR), stating CTR will join with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to introduce a bill that "bans bears, non-human primates, and wild cats." It further states this "legislation has nothing to do with farming practices. It is about bears, nonhuman primates, and wild cats. Not pigs. Not chickens. Not cows." Nevertheless, that hasn't stopped speculation by voices intent on inflaming the community with messages saying things like “this legislation may cover more than big cats. The HSUS model Dangerous Wild Animal (DWA) legislation, for which they received the stamp of approval from the American Bar Association (ABA) Animal Law Committee in 2014, includes large constrictors (even boa constrictors) and venomous snakes." It should be noted that the above referenced model legislation has not been adopted by the ABA; but is merely a recommendation by a committee. A simple phone call to the executive director of CTR, Pam Fulk, immediately answered the speculation as to whether the legislation included or would include reptiles or amphibians. Fulk responded that such speculation is "absolutely untrue." She said the legislation is in its final process of review, adding, "People are already making things up." When a group has any association with HSUS, USARK is vigilant to verify their statements to us. USARK has mechanisms in place to identify legislation introduced in all 50 states, including amendments to existing laws that would affect the herp community. Let's not speculate, and waste our energy and activism, when we can verify, and focus our efforts on confirmed threats. Thursday, January 22 2015Nothing comes between a man and his bush viper
Back in 1970, while scanning a pricelist from Hank Molt, the name Mt. Kenya bush viper, Atheris desaixii, caught my eye. I was familiar with several species in the genus, but A. desaixii was one that I didn't know.
 In those days there was no Google to turn to for information. Even the word computer was seldom heard and if heard it was not thought about as belonging to a magazine-sized entity that would reside in average homes, schoolrooms, backpacks, and vehicles. But we did have telephones. And back then we dialed the number of the person we hoped to talk with. Since there was no caller ID to alert them that it was a pest calling, they almost always answered the phone. So I called Hank. Hank answered, and a few moments later he was describing a Mt. Kenya bush viper to me. It seems that the snake was primarily black, had yellow tipped scales, and its venom composition was basically unknown. Hank said it was a beautiful snake, really, really pretty. Sounded pretty to me, so I asked Patti "Do I need a Mt. Kenya bush viper?" She looked at me like I had just stepped off a spaceship, and said "no" (and it was an emphatic no). So I called Hank back, told him that Patti couldn't wait to see the viper, and to ship it ASAP. Two days later I was getting acquainted with my first Mt. Kenya bush viper. And Hank had been right. It was a beauty. Continue reading "Nothing comes between a man and his bush viper" Wednesday, January 21 2015Winter doesn’t make a difference in Malabar pit viper sighting
The colorful Malabar pit viper, Trimeresurus malabaricus, is one of the most beautiful snakes one can come across in India.
  An adult malabaricus is about 45cm to 105cm in size and usually found in southwestern and southern jungles of India. However, the usual locations where malabaricus is found varies according to the seasons. For example, in summers it'd found on higher branches of trees, whereas during monsoons it's found on the lower branches a foot or two off the ground, as well as on rocks.Last weekend I visited a friend in Amboli, a hill station in the Western Ghats, a mountain range that runs almost parallel to the western coast of India, and a paradise for herpetologists who are in search of malabaricus. It was a cold night and I had no intention of herping as I was pretty sure that I wouldn't find anything, but the area looked so scenic and perfect for herping I couldn’t stop myself and went on a night field trip. To my good luck I found a malabaricus within 20 minutes. It rekindled my spirit, as this the primary reason that I love snakes and feel a bond with them. It was about 50cm long and green in colour, and it was coiled up on small fallen branch of a tree. These snakes are active at night and shy in nature, and are sometimes seen during day basking in the sunlight. They are very rare to find in winter, as it is assumed to go into hibernation at that time of year. Encountering this Malabar pit viper added happiness to my weekend! Tuesday, January 20 2015Our house survived a spurred tortoise
The tortoise, a foot long African spurred tortoise, Geochelone (Centrochelys) sulcata, had been dropped in the tortoise yard. In the morning we had no African spurred tortoise and didn't really want one, then in the afternoon we had one. Spontaneous turtle and tortoise acquisition had happened to us before, but this was our first unaccounted for spurred tortoise.
 We weren't really surprised. Over the years, a fair number of feral examples of this big Sub-Saharan tortoise had been found in North Central Florida. But because of its burrowing proclivities it was a species that we didn't particularly want. Yet here it was and it appeared to be in good condition, so we decided to let it stay for a while. It ate and it grew. 18 inches came and went. It ate more and it grew more. 24 inches! And it wanted more and more food. But at least it wasn't burrowing. It spent the nights in a big heated (when needed) tortoise house. Then one day it didn't come out of the house to forage. Well, it (and we) were entitled to a day off. It didn't emerge the next day either. On the 3rd day it emerged wearing a huge pyramid of soil on its carapace. Uh oh. Time to check, but something intervened and several additional days went by. To check we had to move the big tortoise house and that was always a chore. When we moved the house, I deeply regretted that we had waited. The interior of the tortoise house was almost filled with the dirt from an immense burrow that went far back beneath the foundation of our house. Left to its own devices, it looked like the tortoise was headed for Sydney, Australia and our house wouldn't be far behind. The sulcata was unreachable. I'd have to await his next emergence, temporarily cage him, then check the burrow and somehow remove smaller tortoises that were assuredly utilizing this haven. It took some doing, but a day later the big sulcata was surprised while eating, two smaller tortoises were removed from the burrow, and the hole was refilled. And our house still sits solidly on its foundation - I think. Did I mention that we no longer have any sulcata? Continue reading "Our house survived a spurred tortoise " Thursday, January 15 2015Nose to nose with an alligator in the night
About a half a mile from our house there is a small drainage culvert that channels water from a small neighborhood lake and wetland, beneath a busy highway, and into the Paynes Prairie basin. Various herps at various times utilize this culvert to assuage their various needs. Patti and I occasionally visit the canal just to see what creatures happen to be present at different times.
 Sometimes we're surprised, sometimes we're not. When the water is flowing strongly it may attain a depth of about a foot. More normally it is 8 inches or less deep. Sometimes the culvert is totally dry and during droughts it may remain dry for weeks or even months on end. But when times are good and the water is gurgling through this tiny culvert, I am provided with as good a chance at seeing a greater siren, Siren lacertina, or a two-toed amphiuma, Amphiuma means, as any other locale I know. One night when Mike and I stopped by we were happy to see hundreds of bluefin killifish. A Florida banded water snake or two is not an unusual find. Patti made what was probably the most unexpected and most memorable find . We were passing the culvert one night and decided to check it out. Patti, being much more nimble than I, clambered down the slope to the culvert to see what wonders of nature awaited her scrutiny. Headlight gleaming, she peered into the culvert, made an immediate exclamation and scurried back up the slope. "What's the hurry?" I asked. " "Look over the edge," Patti said. I did and leaning as far forward as I dared I could barely see the tip of a rounded black object. She had come nose to nose with a 10 foot alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, that was sheltering quietly in the culvert. We both decided that we had enough of herping for the evening. Continue reading "Nose to nose with an alligator in the night" Tuesday, January 13 2015Florida's seven wonderful water snakes
Florida is home, at least in small part, to seven species of water snakes of the genus Nerodia.
 One species, the Mississippi green water snake barely enters the state on extreme western tip of the panhandle. The midland water snake, a subspecies of the northern water snake, is found from the central panhandle to the western tip. Two subspecies of plain-bellied water snakes (the yellow-bellied and the red-bellied) are also panhandle species. One or another of the three subspecies of the salt marsh snakes may be found along almost all of Florida's extensive coastline, but are absent from St. Augustine northward on the Atlantic Coast. Two of the three subspecies of the southern water snake, the Florida and the southern, occur in suitable habitats throughout the state (save for the Florida Keys). The southern subspecies is restricted in distribution primarily to the state's panhandle. Except for a small area in northeastern Florida you may happen across the Florida green water snake. But of them all, the seventh species, the brown water snake, Nerodia taxispilota, is the only one to occur throughout all of mainland Florida (the possible exception being a narrow strip along the state's extreme environmental nightmare, the southeastern coastline). All too often, the brown water snake is mistaken for a cottonmouth ("water moccasin"). This is sad; other than each having a feisty disposition, the two are not even vaguely similar. Having a heavy body and a verified length in excess of five and a half feet, the brown is one of the larger water snakes. The three rows of dark brown markings are usually square in shape and unless the snake is unusually dark or the pattern is obscured by a patina of mud, the markings are evident throughout the snake's life. The brown water snake utilizes a variety of habitats: canals, swamps, and rivers among them. The snake may often ascend several feet above the water surface to seek a basking spot in an overhanging tree. Continue reading "Florida's seven wonderful water snakes" Monday, January 12 2015New year, new viper rescue!
As I was preparing for my new year, I received a call from an unknown number, requesting me for a rescue for an unidentified snake.
 Based on the area and the weather I presumed it was a Russell’s viper, but according to the description of the person who called me, it was a rat snake or a grass snake. I called up my friend and picked him up on the way as I never go alone on rescue calls, so there will be someone who can drive me to hospital in case any accident occurs.  When I reached the spot it was in the downtown area. The snake was coiled up in a corner surrounded by 20-25 people. As I started the onerous task of rescue, the crowd panicked and took a step or two back. I shined the flash light toward the snake; it was a Russell’s viper indeed. My friend kept an eye on the snake till the time I arranged a snake sack. The viper was around 5 ft. in length, a good sized snake. I directed the snake toward the sack with the help of my snake stick and tied the mouth of the sack. The rescue was successfully completed. I was, however, disturbed that the people who had surrounded the viper were not at all aware it is one of the deadliest creatures on the earth and that it could be fatal if the viper had bitten any one of them. So after the rescue I took 20 minutes to make the people aware, as I always do. The feeling was so good after rescuing the snake, and I really want to thank that viper for maintaining a cool temper even after he was surrounded and disturbed by huge number of people. Sunday, January 11 2015Texas herp legend Dr. James Dixon passes away Legendary Texas herpetologist and naturalist James R. (Jim) Dixon passed away yesterday, January 10, 2015, leaving a legacy in Texas herpetology and herpetoculture that will be hard to match.Dr. Dixon never met a snake he didn't like. Professor Emeritus and Curator Emeritus of amphibians and reptiles at the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection at Texas A&M University, in his long, distinguished career Dr. Dixon described hundreds of new species of reptiles and amphibians worldwide, with a special emphasis on the herpetofauna of Texas, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Born in 1928 in Houston, Dr. Dixon first obtained his bachelor of science from Howard Payne University in 1950 before serving in the Korean War. Working as Curator of Reptiles at the Ross Allen Reptile Institute before earning his masters degree (1957) and PhD in (1961) from Texas A&M University, he was an Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M from 1959 until 1961. As an Associate Professor of Wildlife Management at New Mexico State University from 1961 until 1965, he served as a consultant to the New Mexico Game and Fisheries department until leaving for the University of Southern California, where from 1965 until 1967 he was Curator of Herpetology at the Los Angeles County Museum. In 1971 he returned to his Texas roots, becoming a professor at Texas A&M University, where he taught Wildlife and Fisheries Science and became Curator of the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection. Dr. Dixon also served as president of several herpetological and naturalist societies including The Herpetologist League, Texas Herpetological Society, Texas Academy of Science, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Southwestern Association of Naturalists. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Systems of Natural Laboratories and the faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University. Author and co-author of numerous books, book chapters, and hundreds of peer reviewed notes and articles, Dr. Dixon was one of the most prominent herpetologists of the latter 20th century, and over the years numerous species have been named in his honor by some of his thousands of students and admirers. Thursday, January 8 2015The hog-nose trio
Dan and I had been dipping for dwarf siren and then road hunting for several hours. At 4:00PM, we found ourselves on a sand road south of the "Big Lake" (Lake Okeechobee) and we were about ready to call it a day. Dan had to drive back to Miami and I to Gainesville. Fair distances, both.
We were on what we decided would be our last drive of the day along the long dirt road. The drive northward had been uneventful and we were almost to the end of our southward return. Snake!  A fair-sized, heavy-bodied snake was crawling slowly onto the road. From a distance we had thought it to be a cottonmouth. No great prize, but when herping is slow any and all herps are a welcome sighting. As we neared and the snake crawled farther on to the road it became apparent that it wasn't a cottonmouth - it was an eastern hog-nose. This made what had been a rather blah day a really nice one. But it was about to get even better. As we photographed the female that was now almost across the road, an adult male crawled out of the edging grasses about 6 inches from where we first saw the female. Bingo. Breeding time! And then from about 20 feet farther down road a second male was sighted. Dan and I spent considerable time taking photos and when we left we were both smiling. Continue reading "The hog-nose trio" Wednesday, January 7 2015Challenges ahead for the UK reptile hobby
This year will be a defining year for British reptile keepers.
 This year the UK will see the publication of the list of species to be banned from private ownership under the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulations. This is a defining moment in history. Never before has the UK banned the private ownership of any animal. The number of species affected is initially likely to very small, but there will be the inevitably push from the "antis" have more and more species added. The EU is also the source of a debate to implement a positive list of approved reptile species. Keepers in Belgium and the Netherlands are very much at the forefront of this insidious push by the antis to ban keeping of non-approved species. There’s nothing positive about a positive list. 2015 will also finally answer a argument that has been raging for more than 20 years - are UK reptile shows are legal or not. The question will finally be answered this year by the British High Court. Despite these threats, our hobby continues to grow. 2014 saw more reptiles and amphibians kept in the UK than ever before. There was also an increase in the number of pet shops licensed to sell reptiles, and this growth is set to continue and 2015. Although business has been tough, we're bucking the trend of many other sectors. Growth was strongest in the frozen food sector (rodents) with an increase of about 11 percent, and live foods by about 7 percent. A belated happy New Year to everyone and I hope it is a prosperous time for everyone. Photo: 1999 International Herp Society Fall Expo, Walsall, U.K. - courtesy Jeff Barringer Tuesday, January 6 2015Whiskered vipers in the sand
Letters (remember the days when correspondence was via written letters?) were zipping back and forth from Tampa to Karachi. Jerry mentioned having just collected a "nice" half grown whiskered viper (also known as the McMahon's or leaf-nosed viper), Eristicophis mcmahoni from Balochistan.
 Since he was going to ship me a couple of hundred leopard geckos in a week, he was wondering whether I might want the snake as well. My answer was "yes, you bet I want it." About two weeks later, I was settling a whiskered viper into a sandy terrarium. And to say I was enamored with the beast would be a monumental understatement. Whiskered vipers are not colorful but what they lack in that respect is more than made up for by their impressively defensive attitude. Until recently, when I decided to not keep "hots" any longer, whenever possible I had an Eristicophis or two in the collection. Although I have never succeeded in breeding this taxon, I have found them hardy and very responsive - the kind of snake that will meet you at the top of its terrarium to accept food from long forceps. If startled this snake will inflate its body and exhale loudly and/or assume an "S" position and rub the scales together producing a very audible rasping sound. Like many desert or savannah snakes, the whiskered viper is an ambush hunter that sinks all but its eyes and nostrils just below the surface of loose sand. From this position they are able to strike and envenomate their prey of unwary lizards or rodents . Males, the smaller sex, are adult at less than a foot and a half. Females may near thirty inches in length but are usually only about two feet long. Continue reading "Whiskered vipers in the sand" Monday, January 5 2015Snake rescue - Indian style!
If you’re a snake lover in India and you wish to do something for the welfare of these reptilian friends, one of the best ways to do so is to become a snake rescuer.
 However, should you undertake this difficult ordeal, realize it’s not what you do but why you do it that counts. It’s a journey, like the one that married couples take, to understand and empathize with these wonderful creatures. Indian culture and snakes are made for each other. There are certain popular myths that have existed for over thousands of years that have caused a great deal of destruction of snake habitats. Some common mis-beliefs include that snakes drink milk and snakes are vengeful by nature. Having said that, I would like to add these myths are also among the reasons snakes have been protected to certain extent. For example, snakes are worshiped to prevent their malevolent behavior or responses.  Until recently, snake rescue culture grew slowly in India. Today, one can find snake rescuers in every part of India. However, you will rarely come across a full-time snake rescuer as there is little scope for herpetology and for most population it's inaccessible. One would discover, like I did, that most snake rescuers are hobbyists or affiliated with non-governmental organizations. This calls for a great deal of effort to gain the required knowledge and skill to handle snakes properly. For examples, you'll only find snake shelters in urban areas. Usually,most snake rescuers free the snake back to nature in forested areas. Mostly, snake calls in India are distress calls. For example, recently one of my friends called me up on a holiday. He was panicking after he found a snake at his place. Over the years, it's become almost predictable as to which snakes are found in certain areas in different seasons. However, they never seem to stop surprising me. Snake rescuing culture in India is still developing. Although it has gained some momentum, it still has a long way to go. |
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