World Snake Day Special: Jamshedpur’s Raja Barik leads effort to promote snake awareness and safety

Mail News Service

Seraikela, July 15: World Snake Day will be marked on Wednesday with a unique celebration aimed at raising awareness about the importance and ecological role of snakes. In a symbolic gesture, a cake-cutting ceremony will be held at STR School in Seraikela, with the support of the Forest Department, to emphasize that snakes deserve understanding, not fear.

For centuries, snakes have evoked both fascination and fear. Their graceful movements and striking patterns are admired when safely enclosed in a snake charmer’s box, but the same snake in the open often causes panic. Experts remind the public that snakes are environmentally important creatures that typically do not attack unless provoked or threatened.

Rainy Season Increases Snake Sightings and Bites

Snakes usually emerge during the monsoon, when their underground burrows become waterlogged. They seek dry, dark places to hide, often unknowingly entering human homes. Due to this seasonal pattern, Sadar Hospital Seraikela has recorded a spike in snakebite cases, with 191 incidents reported so far this year, including 61 in June and 28 in July. Fortunately, all patients had recovered due to timely and proper treatment, and adequate stock of anti-venom which, has been ensured across healthcare centers.

Raja Barik: Seraikela’s snake rescuer with a mission

One of the most notable contributors to snake conservation and public awareness in Seraikela is Raja Barik, a trained snake rescuer who has safely rescued 1,301 snakes since 2009. Inspired by a personal incident in 2008 — when a non-venomous Chitti (wolf snake) crawled over his brother — Raja initially reacted by killing the reptile in panic. The guilt he felt the next day led him to train professionally and dedicate his life to rescuing and safely releasing snakes into the wild.

Seraikela-Kharsawan district is home to several venomous species, including cobras, kraits, and banded kraits, as well as seven species of non-venomous snakes such as python, dhamin, wolf snake, water sand snake, sand boa, Harhara, and the rare Trinket Snake.

Safety Tips and Public Awareness

As part of World Snake Day, citizens are being encouraged to adopt preventive measures including keeping surroundings clean and free from dense vegetation, avoiding sleeping on the floor, using proper lighting when walking through bushes or outdoor areas at night, not provoking or attempting to handle snakes without expert help, in case of a snakebite, immediately visiting the hospital for treatment and not relying on exorcists or traditional healers.

Health experts stress the importance of the “golden hour” in treating snakebite victims. Timely medical intervention can save lives.

World Snake Day serves as a reminder that co-existence with snakes is possible and necessary. Thanks to local heroes like Raja Barik, public perception is gradually shifting from fear to respect and understanding.