THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When City Express caught up with Latha Tampi and Babu Palalayam at the former’s house near Thirumala, the duo were busy feeding a cobra captured from Akkulam. The snake hissed vigorously sensing movement in front of the large plastic container in which it was kept. When Babu took it out and played with the reptile using his stick and hook, Latha looked apprehensive.When the pose for a snap prolonged more than necessary, she expressed her discontent openly. Babu heeded to the advice of Latha and put the snake back in the container. “This is an important lesson we have learnt from our long interaction with snakes. Treat them like a snake, they won’t hurt you,” says Babu, an employee of HLL Lifecare, Peroorkada, and member of Zoowatch, a city-based NGO founded in 1993 by a group of professionals to ensure the safety and living condition of animals in captivity.Latha, the vice-president of Zoowatch and head of the Department of German, University of Kerala, has turned her home into a rescue shelter for injured animals. “We show concern for all wild animals that suffer at the hands of humans. But the case of snakes is quite different as they are least understood by the public. We want the public to be aware about the snakes. You don’t have to be scared of them,” says Latha.Zoowatch always maintains that snakes should be handled with care. “Never treat them like your pet. Try to lessen the physical intimacy with snakes. Always use security gear like hooks and boots while handling them,” goes on Latha. For that reason, they have made it mandatory for the members to go through Romulus Whittaker’s ‘Snakes of India’. Scientific knowledge is a must to practise snake rescue effectively, she maintains.To educate the masses on the need to protect snakes and other wild animals, Zoowatch has been conducting awareness classes among students and also the officials of the Forest Department. Now, preparations are on to impart training to the interested public during the Onam vacation. For this purpose, Zoowatch has already started registration for the public. The training will focus on understanding the reptile and handling them without any danger if the situation calls for.Two injured kites, a civet and snakes ranging in size and colour live at her home under the watchful eyes of ten volunteers, all working professionals. A 1959 model Willys jeep loaded with hooks, containers, PVC pipes and tongs is parked in the car porch awaiting calls from people. Once the Zoowatch team gets a call about snakes and other injured birds or animals, they set off for the site.The injured animals are then treated and handed over to the Forest Department. Zoowatch can be contacted over phone number 9846662424.
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