Seven Snakes Rescued From Charmers in Hyderabad Ahead of Nag Panchami

The Friends of Snakes Society (FOS), working in coordination with the state forest department, has rescued seven snakes from snake charmers across Hyderabad and its surrounding areas ahead of Nag Panchami on August 17. The rescues included four spectacled cobras (Naja naja) recovered from charmers in the Maheshwaram locality on August 14.

During the intervention at Maheshwaram, FOS members alerted Mankhal Forest Range Officer J Prabhakar about the snake charmers operating in the area. Forest Beat Officer Sai Varun was subsequently deployed to assist the rescue team on site.

The rescued snakes are undergoing medical treatment and regular monitoring. FOS confirmed that the reptiles will be released into suitable natural habitats once they recover, with the official permission and assistance of the forest department.

Ahead of the festival, FOS cautioned the public against the capture, possession, and display of live snakes, noting that such practices cause severe animal suffering and violate wildlife protection laws. The society stated that snakes, especially spectacled cobras, are often captured illegally from the wild and kept in poor conditions to generate income during Nag Panchami.

The organisation also urged devotees not to smear kumkum or turmeric on snakes and not to feed them milk. FOS explained that snakes do not naturally ingest milk, and forcing weakened or dehydrated reptiles to consume it can cause critical health complications.