Guwahati: Snake rescuers from across Assam converged at the Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati on Wednesday for the first-ever Assam Snake Symposium, exchanging frontline experiences and the challenges they face during rescues. Many of these volunteers operate in high-risk environments, working tirelessly to prevent snake killings while ensuring public safety.
The day-long event marked a historic step by Assam in addressing snakebite fatalities and promoting snake conservation—two long-standing but often underreported public health and ecological concerns.
Over 130 participants attended, including more than 80 trained snake rescuers, alongside national and international experts, researchers, educators, and policymakers. The symposium was jointly organised by the Assam State Biodiversity Board (ASBB), Assam Forest Department, Help Earth, and the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT).
The program commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Oinam Sunanda Devi, Scientific Officer of ASBB, who set the tone for a day of collaborative learning and action.
The event was attended by senior officers of the Assam Forest Department, including Dr. Vinay Gupta, PCCF, Hirdesh Mishra, Anurag Singh, Sunnydeo Indradeo Choudhury, Ashwini Kumar, Jayashree Naiding, and Rohini Ballave Saikia—underscoring the department’s strong commitment to tackling both snake conservation and snakebite management.
Delivering the keynote address, Assam Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary announced the formation of a State-Level Steering Committee on Snakebite Mitigation. He also proposed the creation of a state-of-the-art serpentarium in Assam, which would support advanced research on snake venom and region-specific envenomation treatments.
One of the major highlights of the event was the proposed rollout of the SARPA Application—a technology-driven platform aimed at monitoring and streamlining snake rescue operations across Assam. Experts noted that this app would be especially critical during the state’s annual flood season, when human-snake encounters typically spike.
The event also saw the launch of a new public-oriented booklet, “Snakebite Prevention and Management: A Community Guide for Assam,” aimed at empowering communities with knowledge on snakebite first aid, essential do’s and don’ts, and the importance of timely medical care.
In a significant step toward grassroots-level engagement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Assam State Biodiversity Board and Help Earth. The partnership will promote snakebite awareness and mitigation through the state’s Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), aiming to build local capacity for emergency response.
Technical sessions spanned a wide array of subjects—from snake taxonomy and venom research to community perception and the legal nuances of snake rescue. Eminent speakers included Dr. H.T. Lalremsanga (Mizoram University), Dr. Surajit Giri (Demow Model Hospital), Dr. Sakthi Vaiyapuri (University of Reading, UK), and Dr. Robin Doley (Tezpur University), who provided scientific and community-level insights.
Practical knowledge-sharing sessions were also held—Ms. Lisa Gonsalves (The Liana Trust) spoke on captive husbandry, while Mr. Gnaneswar Ch. (MCBT) addressed the legal and ethical guidelines for snake rescue work.
The symposium also featured a screening of the documentary “Snake and Snakebites in Northeast,” which shed light on the intensity of human-snake conflict in the region.
The event concluded with a moderated discussion aimed at framing a State Snakebite Mitigation Action Plan. Participants emphasised the need for integrated strategies combining community awareness, medical preparedness, habitat conservation, and robust legal frameworks.
Summing up the day’s significance, a representative from Help Earth stated, “This symposium has set the foundation for a safer and more snake-conscious Assam. The collective resolve we saw today will pave the way for community-based, science-driven, and policy-backed action.”
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