MP: Snake surgeon Dr Ankit rescues 100 cobras at Chhindwara

Dr Ankit Meshram of Chhindwara has saved the lives of more than 100 cobra snakes by doing surgery till now. In a special conversation with ETV India, Dr Ankit explains how snake surgery is done and how dangerous it is.

Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh) : Dr Ankit Meshram, who has done successful surgery on more than 100 cobra snakes so far, said that from the beginning, he used to have a goal to cure the diseases of wild animals and snakes by doing surgery because his father was also a veterinarian. So he treated many snakes and left them in the wild. He considered surgery on a cobra as the most difficult one.

Dr Ankit said that the villagers had brought the cobra to him and the surgery was very difficult. After conducting the operation on the snake's jaw, it was left safely in the forest. The doctor said that only three species of snakes are poisonous in India while the rest of the snakes help in maintaining the environmental balance. But still, common people are afraid and they tend to kill them.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Dr Ankit said that many people lose their lives while playing with poisonous snakes, so it is necessary to identify the snake first. When the snakes realize that they can be attacked, they raise a hood for self-defence, which people often mistake for an attacking posture while others consider it as fun. Another poisonous snake is Russell's viper, which is considered a spot or a python.

Common karait is also venomous and it comes out at night only, it likes human heat very much and it hides in the bed in most of the houses for heat, when there is any movement, it attacks the victim directly.

Regarding treating snakes, Dr Ankit said that a human being can tell his illness or problem to the doctors by speaking and according to that the disease can be detected. But it is very difficult to detect the disease of any animal. As per scientist William Robers, the most successful and best doctor can only be a veterinarian because when any animal is brought to him for treatment, on the basis of the symptoms, it can be successfully treated by detecting its disease. This is the art that makes a vet a successful doctor.

In the course of stunts, they put their lives in danger

Dr Ankit Menshram said that nowadays it is seen that in the name of stunts or while doing rescue, they play with snakes, but they do not know which species the snake is and how much harm it can cause. They lose their lives, they have said that they should not take risks until they are fully trained and they do not know the species of snakes.