Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Snakes - Fascinating Creation of Nature !


Snakes intrigue, fascinate and sometimes horrify. As well as been one of the most potent symbols of the animal world, they are also among its most fascinating members. With 2,700 species in total, snakes inhabit some of nature’s most inhospitable parts of the world – from deserts to barren mountain slopes – but are equally at home in the tree canopies of the great rainforests, or swimming in the ocean currents of the Pacific.

Snakes have always held a fascination, often bordering on an obsession, for people; and since prehistoric times, they have been shrouded in mysticism and superstition. The fascination was due, at least partly, to their strange shape and motion, and their ability to strike unexpectedly with deadly accuracy. Such inhuman or “unnatural” attributes lead them to be considered supernatural and superhuman. Myths and legends about snakes abound, and they have been worshiped and used in ceremonies and rituals all over the world.

Coiled motionless around tree branches or slithering silently through the undergrowth, snakes are the most secretive and feared of all the reptiles. Yet less than a quarter of all snakes are venomous, and they rarely attack people unless provoked. The smallest snakes are as thin as a pencil, while the largest are meter wide. All sizes are fascinating, from hooded cobras and hissing Russell's vipers to colourful golden tree snakes and amazing kingcobras.

5 comments:

Arup said...

Good job Captain, some real well written piece of info which is concise and yet gets the message through.

J. C. Lopez-Johnston said...

Capts

Namaste!

Congratulations! you are always improving.

Best

juan

Dino said...

Very well written sir,very factual and appreciable and inspirational efforts,good luck !

Aj Raina said...

gr8 work sir, keep it up. i am sure you will carry- both field work and this blog- to newer heights with every passing day. all the best

Aaditto Shen said...

Hello Capt. Sharma,
I have visited your blog as well the Snake Cell website a number of times...
I am writing to you here with the hope that you shall provide me with some guidance, related to snake-handling and identification -the only 'tool' I have at my disposal is an old book By R K Deoras, called Snakes of India, which seems to be seriously back-dated!
I am a wildlife enthusiast myself, though I have primarily studied birds.
I have always loved snakes, and had been initiated to basic snake handling when I was a kid, by Sri Dipak Mitra.
However, I have learnt to handle snakes mostly through my own efforts, and chiefly due to the need of rescuing animals who have entered human habitats.
I presently live and work at a forest/village reconstruction project (http://babli-farm.tripod.com), where we have a LARGE collection of wild snakes - which we try our best to live with.
I have recently captured a full-grown python and a Russel's viper within our project. We releases both the snakes in the adjoining jungles. But I am not sure if that is the best option!
It would be great if I could open an e-mail communication Chanel with you - so that I can discuss some of my doubts, and get help through your knowledge and experience.
Thanks for your time!
Aaditto Shen.
aaditto@yahoo.com