Maharashtra Allows Capture of 41 Cobras for 'Education,' Renewing Wildlife Protection Fight
A decision in Maharashtra to allow the capture of 41 male Indian cobras in Battis Shirala has revived a long-running conflict over wildlife protection, religious tradition and the limits of legal exemptions.
Mid-Day reported that the principal chief conservator of forests authorized the Sangli forest department to capture the cobras between Aug. 10 and 20 for educational purposes. The window overlaps with Nag Panchami, the Hindu festival observed on Aug. 17, when snakes have historically been displayed in the village.
The approval was challenged by Dhiraj Mirajkar, the forest department's longtime legal adviser, who argued it may have been a way around court restrictions on using live snakes during Nag Panchami. Battis Shirala is widely known for the festival, but the use of live snakes in the celebration has been prohibited since 2006 after wildlife activists mounted a legal challenge.
India Times reported that snakes were used during Nag Panchami observances, while stressing that the practice remains banned. Authorities said the exemption was intended strictly for education, not religious ritual, and that every captured snake would be returned to its natural habitat after the event.
A senior forest department official described a monitoring system intended to keep the captures supervised and documented. 'We have placed one range forest officer for every four permit holders to monitor the capture, display and release. For every 10 permit holders, one veterinary doctor will be present,' the official said. 'They should ensure the reptile is not harmed by any means and have to provide the report on its health before the release.'
Officials also used photography and videography to track each capture and release, in addition to demonstrations. The measures reflect the sensitivity of a permit that touches both conservation law and a custom that draws crowds and strong emotions.
The dispute also highlights the broader pressures involved in handling venomous snakes in India, where a single sighting can quickly lead to capture, relocation and public alarm. Recent incidents elsewhere in the country do not directly address the Maharashtra permit fight, but they illustrate the risks and reactions that surround cobras when they appear near homes.
- In Kota, residents panicked after cobras turned up in two homes, including one near ladoos.
- In Gujarat, rescuers safely returned a cobra to the wild after it was found in a home.
- In Telangana, a snake catcher bagged a cobra for relocation after it entered a grandparents' house.
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