Snakes Of India The Field Guide.pdf

Snakes of India is a compilation of the estimates and encounters of travellers and locals going through the length and breadth of the state of Kerala over decades, where serpent glamour and knowledge would have otherwise been unrecorded.

The decline and waning of this fascinating industry in Kerala is a largely unloved episode of the recent past. From the snake charmer and his mates, to the cart and the cage, the practice has now virtually died out. The chores of the charmer were essentially limited to locating the snake for display, keeping the cobra docile enough to travel the distance, and assisting in the delivery of the 'copper coins'.

If watching a movie of a wood-pigeon in flight or listening to a powerful eagle's scream are merely a fantasy, imagining real life experiences of Mother Nature is incomparable. Snake charming is an example of'snake voyeurism' or 'natural spectacle' and currently engages the Indian public. This activity is illegal under animal welfare laws and regulations, but aspects remain questionable. This book is not here to debate such issues. The middling Hindu and Buddhist heritage of little interest to outsiders has nurtured a whimsical attitude towards other species even from an early age. 7211a4ac4a