Cans, cause of snake deaths - India Press Item

Subject:

Comments:
: TIMES OF INDIA (Delhi) 27 December 99 Cans, cause of snake deaths : Pune: Cans may be attractive and convenient packages for beverages and foods, but their incorrect disposal is leading to the death of a large number of snakes. : The problem is accentuated particularly by such cans finding their way into the rivers and nallahs, where water snakes breed. Neelimkumar Khaire, director of the Katraj snake park and the Indian Herpetological Society (IHS), told reporters on Sunday that snakes push their heads into these cans on spotting small frogs and mice entering in for the residue left within. : "Though the snake kills its prey, its head get caught inside the can in its effort to swallow the prey. When the trapped snake struggles to get free, the sharp edges of the can lead to cuts and injuries on the reptile's neck and it often dies of excessive bleeding," he explained. : Such incidents usually happen near water bodies, the preferred areas of snakes, where the cans are left uncollected for several days. Khaire said IHS volunteers have noticed several instances where snakes have died after getting trapped in the cans. : The only way to stop the unwarranted death of the snakes was to stop the dumping of cans in nallahs or rivers, Khaire said. He appealed to the citizens, departmental store-owners and restaurant owners to ensure proper and safe disposal of cans. : Students of various schools and activists of eight environmental organisations, led by IHS, will launch a week-long drive beginning December 26 to collect these cans from along the Mutha river banks and the nallahs in the city. Besides the IHS, the other environmental organisations that will participate in the drive are World Wide Fund (WWF), Centre for Environment Education, Nisarga-Vedh, Indian Nature Society, YUVA Shakti, INTACH and Vihang Mitra. : The cans collected will be handed over to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for proper disposal. The drive will be intensified on January 1 as it is feared that a large number of cans will find their way into the rivers and nallahs following the various millennium celebrations around town. :

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL: