Jangareddygudem (Andhra Pradesh): Meet Chadalavada Kranthi, a youngster from Jangareddygudem, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh catches snakes to protect the reptiles and save the environment.
He is a full-time worker in a private company and a snake catcher in his leisure time, who has rescued over 10,000 snakes in and around his region.
Following the mantra 'every creature has the right to life' he has become a saviour for snakes and for residents both.
He has taken up the responsibility of catching snakes in residential areas and safely letting them back into the forests.
He even trained several enthusiasts in catching snakes and creating awareness among people about snakebites.
He says, "When we spot a snake, we usually run for our lives or kill it out of fear. But I capture them safely and leave them in the forest.
One of the villagers said that whenever they spot a snake in the village or nearby, we immediately inform Kranthi.
"He reaches the spot with the necessary equipment, catches any of the venomous snakes with amazing ease. Kranthi uses several techniques to bring the snakes out of their hideouts in residential areas," he said.
Kranthi has publicized his phone number in the neighbouring villages and urged the villagers to call him whenever they see a snake. He has conducted various awareness sessions among farmers and agricultural labourers.
Kranthi said, "I developed an interest in snakes since childhood. I never liked when villagers killed snake to save themselves, since then with the intention of saving them, I learnt how to capture snakes. "
For this love for snakes, he even formed the Snake Safer Society and has saved about 10,000 snakes over the past 10 years.
Though Kranthi has financial constraints, he did not stop his mission of saving snakes.
He conducts sessions in different districts to sensitize people about precautionary measures and first aid in case of a snakebite.
He has taken several workshops in Diviseema of Krishna district, which has the highest incidence of snakebite deaths in the state.
Believing that the environment could be saved through wildlife conservation, he makes people understand the importance of snakes.
Kranthi has been relentlessly doing his part in saving the nature which is a necessity at a time when man-animal conflict is on the rise.
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