Story about SNAKES

Though India is a nation with a long history of coexistence with snakes, it is a mixed bag for the fortunes of the reptiles. They are worshipped, feared and as the proverb goes their very sight could make an army panic. Some villagers might fear an ill omen and harm the reptiles. While passing through a village in Maharashtra, Mr. Whitaker saw a snake being burnt by a group of people. He stopped his vehicle and wanted to know why the villagers were killing the reptile thus. One of them came forward and told him that he was the last person that the snake set its eyes upon, and if it died later, it would ‘remember’ him. As the myth goes, its mate would get the same image and kill him. To eliminate it immediately, he had burnt it, the villager replied. Laughing at the explanation, Mr. Whitaker pointed out that several such myths surround these reptiles, which are not at all true.

Today, snakes are not the stuff of lore and mysticism. Their place in nature is understood by many, and fear has given way to respect for their ecological importance. A slithering snake attracts everyone’s attention and tempts some playful youth to pick them up.
A recent study revealed that four types of cobras are found in the country - Spectacled, Monacled, Black and Andaman Cobra. Just as with the prints in the palm of human beings, which vary from person to person, no cobra is identical to another.
Geckos, garden lizards, frogs and toads have a vital role to play in the ecosystem. Many in a fit of rage or due to aversion kill these reptiles, without realizing the fact that they
eat away many insects, which are harmful to humans. Sighting a snake in a jungle could be difficult, but if you visited paddy fields in the rural areas, you could find hundreds of them. Rats are found in large numbers in and around paddy fields and the snakes are attracted towards them. There, one can see a large number of snakes. Sadly, even some misinformed farmers look at the snakes as their enemies and kill them, while the intelligent ones realize their role in pest control.
During the early 1970s, many of the Irula tribals killed lakhs of snakes, as there was a good demand for their skin, which was used for making wallets and belts. But, when they were educated and told about their importance in the food chain, the killing was brought down to a great extent.