1,000 snakes released into Palar

Chennai: Panic gripped the villagers of Ayambakkam, near mad­ura­nthakam in Kanche­epuram district on Satu­rday as the morning walkers and farmers were greeted by hundreds of snakes that were released by some unknown people in the area the previous night.

The villagers claimed that there were more than 100 snakes released into Palar river basin and suspect that the miscreant had come in a Pondicherry-registered bolero car. “What we saw was a large number of snakes near the river bank, an unusual sight and a twenty year old was bitten”, said T.S. Bhaskar, Ayambakkam villaghe panchayat president, who rus­hed to the place after the villagers ran helter skelter. The scared villagers on seeing the reptiles started killing them and at least half a dozen reptiles were found dead. Cobra, rat snake and kraits were there and we alerted the forest department, added the local body president.

When contacted Tiru­porur forest ranger Siva­ram confirmed the incident. Based on the information forest guards were deployed to the scene and Irulas were also brought to catch the snakes. More than twenty snakes were caught.  Preliminary investigations have confirmed that the snakes were released on purpose and a few villagers noticed a bolero car with Pondic­herry registration station­ed near the river bank the previous night. The rescued reptiles have been sent to for herpetology at the Madras Crocodile bank at ECR. The issue has been taken to the higher officials who will co ordinate with the Pondicherry forest depa­rt­ment, he said.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130210/news-current-affairs/article/1000-snakes-released-palar