World Snake Day Celebrated in Tezpur

Tezpur: Along with the rest of the world Tezpur also celebrated its third annual World Snake Day, organised by the dedicated team of snake conservationist Sourav Barkataki on Wednesday. The event, held at the Baliram Lahkar Hall of the Asomiya Club in Tezpur, was presided over by team president and former chairman of Tezpur Municipality Pushpa Deka. In his keynote address, Sourav Barkataki highlighted his team’s ongoing efforts in snake and wildlife conservation. He emphasized the importance of seeking immediate medical assistance instead of relying on traditional healers after a snakebite, and spoke on the crucial role of snakes in maintaining ecological balance. Social activist Krishna Kanta Bora, attending as a guest of honour, informed the audience about the use of snake venom in medicine and human welfare. In a special presentation, Dr. Ripun Chutia of Biswanath Civil Hospital shared that 462 people, including many bitten by highly venomous kraits, had been successfully treated in the past two years as outcome of growing public awareness about seeking hospital care instead of traditional remedies, resulting in zero fatalities. He also recounted a powerful story of nurse Jyoti Chetri, who breastfed a malnourished baby whose mother was hospitalized due to a krait bite which was an act of profound humanity. The event also featured a felicitation ceremony where Dr. Bhabani Bhuyan, retired District Veterinary Officer Dr. Teeroth Singh, Police Officer Rahul Gogoi, and nurse Jyoti Chetri were honoured by the Sourav Barkataki team. Snake conservationists from across Assam were presented with “Team Sourav Barkataki” sporting kits to mark their contributions. It is noteworthy to mention that over the past three decades, Sourav Barkataki has rescued more than 4,000 venomous and rare snakes and treated over 500 before safely releasing them back into the wild. His team now comprises over 300 young men and women actively involved in snake rescue and public awareness campaigns. The event underlined the importance of dispelling myths and superstitions surrounding snakes, raising awareness about their ecological significance, and highlighting the shrinking habitats that threaten reptile populations. It is worth mentioning that World Snake Day was first observed in 2018 by the Reptile Society of California with the goal of promoting conservation, education, and social awareness through global events and online campaigns. Retired Forest Officer Ramesh Gogoi, poet and journalist Kabir Saikia, and photo journalist Barlin Kumar Saikia also attended the programme as invited guests.