Mysore/Mysuru: “Biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining the health and ecological balance in an ecosystem. All living organisms are in a complex food web and help to maintain a population balance. Without snakes, the number of prey species would increase to unnatural levels and destroy the stability of the ecosystem. Similarly, if a large number of snakes are killed, the predators that eat snakes will struggle to find food. Snakes are thus an important component of the natural environment,” said city’s snake rescuer and wildlife conservationist Snake Shyam.

He was speaking at an awareness programme on snakes organised as part of World Snake Day at the Government Primary School in Krishnamurthypuram on Saturday.

Continuing, he said that one should respect all living things and added that there is a lot of misinformation about snakes among people which has caused a sense of fear resulting in snakes being killed and the public are being urged not to kill the snakes.

Shyam later spoke about various snakes, their habitat, food chain, precautions to be taken to prevent snakes from entering houses and its surroundings, treatment for snake bites etc.

Wildlife Conservation Foundation Head Rajkumar D. Devaraj Urs, who too spoke, said that rescue and conservation of snakes should be done in a scientific manner. “Every living thing has its own lifestyle and their lifestyle will be disturbed during intervention by human beings. Without human intervention, every living thing can lead a peaceful life on its own. It is very important that children develop concern for protection and conservation of nature and environment,” he added.

Congress leader and former Wildlife Warden N.M. Naveen Kumar recalled the services of Snake Shyam during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and lauded his services of rescuing snakes, be it day or night.

Snake Shyam, Rajkumar D. Devaraj Urs, snake rescuers Surya Keerthi and Pradeep were felicitated on the occasion.

Melukote Vangipura Mutt Seer Sri Ilai Alwar Swamiji, Mysuru Hotel Owners’ Association President C. Narayanagowda, former Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) Member Jyothi Rechanna, Parisara Snehi Team President Lohit, KMPK Charitable Trust President Vikram Iyengar, Ajay Shastri, Suchendra, Chakrapani, Teachers Champashree, Mamata, Divya and others were present.