Forest dept launches snake rescue system in Ahmedabad

The department has launched the helpline number — 8320002000 — where citizens can raise a snake rescue request by sending a WhatsApp text or SMS or a call.

After initiating the request, one has to submit their location following which a confirmation message will be sent to him/her.

Once the location is submitted, snake rescuers (registered with the forest department) within 5-km-radius will receive a notification on their mobile phones.

The first rescuer to accept the request will have the task assigned to him/her.

The same task cannot be accepted by others.

If there is no snake rescuer within the 5-km-radius, the message will be sent to all within the 10-km-radius. If still there is no rescuer or no one accepts the request, the citizen will be guided to contact the concerned Range Forest Officer (RFO) who will do the needful.

The department has developed an internal application for rescuers to enter basic details of the rescued snake.

The rescuer will eventually handover the rescued reptile to a designated staff member of the forest department.

The handover will be verified and completed through an OTP-based transaction.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests – Wildlife (APCCF-WL) Sanjay Srivastava said that this is the first such system backed by the government for the rescue of snakes in the country.

“We have launched it for Ahmedabad district. But within a month’s time, it will be expanded for the entire state. The citizens are not required to download any application to take advantage of the system,” Srivastava said.

Highlighting some of the salient features of the system, Srivastava said the snake rescuers registered under the system will be first trained and certified by the forest department before their registration. He said that more than 3,000 snakes are being rescued in Gujarat every year.

“The number is bigger in cities like Ahmedabad and Vadodara, which have dense populations. In cities, chances of nefarious activities like illegal venom extraction, selling and display of snakes are also more. We also want to check it through the system as people will have an authentic (government-backed) system (for snake rescue),” he said.