HEAL Celebrates World Snake Day

14-16 July 2024

West Bengal is one of the epicenters of the snakebite crisis in India. The retaliatory killing of snakes, driven by fear of death and disability from snakebites, significantly contributes to the decline of snake populations in this state.

On 16 July, 2024, HEAL members and volunteers celebrated World Snake Day by organizing seminars across five districts in West Bengal to raise awareness about snakebite prevention and management. Our recently joined team members from Tripura also organized snake awareness programs to address the widespread human-snake conflict in Unakoti district.

Local residents reading the snake awareness hoardings

The seminars began by educating participants on the proper identification of snakes and their ecology. This was followed by a discussion on recognizing bite symptoms, first aid protocols for managing snakebites and practices to prevent snakebites and intrusion of snakes in homes.

Glimpses from World Snake Day celebration in Malda
Local women listening to HEAL’s presentation with rapt attention

In the Sundarbans, a total of 4 such seminars were conducted in Joharcolony, Banikhali, Satjelia and Dayapur villages, in Gosaba block between 14 and 16 July. Additionally, we installed permanent metal awareness signboards at 7 prominent ferry ghats accessed by residents of forest-fringe villages of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve. These activities are part of our ‘Zero Death from Snakebite’ project in Sundarbans, supported by #LivingMyPromise’s Dolphin Tank initiative.

Glimpses from World Snake Day celebration in Murshidabad
Local women learning about different snake species from HEAL’s standee

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our members and volunteers for their dedication and efforts in advancing the cause of snake conservation in West Bengal and Tripura as part of World Snake Day in these locations:

– Gazole Girls Primary School & Dhaoel High School in Malda by Jayanta Chakraborty, Bapi Das and Milan Das

– Shibloon ACM High school in East Bardhaman by Biplob Biswas

– Santoshpur Primary School, Bachra Primary School & Ramnagar High School in Murshidabad by Soumyadip Mondal

– Sonamurai Higher Secondary School in Unakoti district, Tripura by Dipayan Chakraborty, Dr. Gautum Mallik, Rahul Deb & Tushar Malakar

– Katamari High School in Cooch Behar by Ardhendu Banik, Roky Sutradhar, Kittu Roy, Sanjeev Burman, Shubhankar Sen, Pappu Roy, Jagadish das, Bikrom Shil and Anirban Das

– Sundarbans, South 24 Parganas by Suvrajyoti Chatterjee, Tamal Das, Chandan Mondal, Debobroto Mondal, Suman Sadhukhan & Aditya Pardhan

We also thank the Forest Department of the Sundarban Tiger Reserve for supporting our initiatives in the region.