Friends of Snakes Society rescues over 13,000 snakes in Telangana in 2024
Hyderabad: In 2024, the Friends of Snakes Society (FOS) rescued 13,028 snakes, achieving a significant milestone in urban wildlife conservation in Telangana. This accomplishment highlights the organization's dedication to protecting reptiles and amphibians while maintaining an excellent safety record. Notably, there were no reported snake bite incidents among the society’s volunteers throughout the entire year.
The FOS’s rescue efforts have shown consistent growth over the years. In 2015, the organization rescued 3,389 snakes, and this number steadily increased to 13,028 by 2024. This nearly fourfold rise reflects both the organization’s expanding capacity and the growing public awareness of the importance of snake conservation. Over the past decade, FOS has rescued more than 75,000 snakes, with a noticeable spike in rescues between 2019 and 2024.
The organization’s average daily snake rescues exceed 35, a significant volume that has provided FOS with extensive experience in handling snakes, including venomous species. This expertise has led to the development of detailed safety protocols, such as species-specific handling techniques, mandatory safety gear for volunteers, and continuous training. Additionally, the society tracks each rescue using GPS-based documentation and real-time data analysis, ensuring that operations are as efficient and safe as possible.
In 2024, the most common species rescued were the Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja), which accounted for nearly 47.5% of the rescues, with 6,186 individuals saved. The Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa) followed closely, making up 24% of the rescues, with 3,120 individuals.
Other species rescued included the Checkered Keelback (Fowlea piscator), Common Bronze Back Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis tristis), and Indian Rock Python (Python molurus), but in smaller numbers.
The predominance of the Spectacled Cobra and Indian Rat Snake indicates their adaptability to urban and peri-urban environments in Telangana, where human-wildlife interaction is increasingly common.
The organization is also conducting an in-depth study of seasonal variations in snake activity patterns, species distribution, and habitat use across urban gradients. The results of this study will provide crucial insights into human-snake conflict dynamics and offer data to help improve conservation strategies. FOS is working closely with the Telangana Forest Department to ensure that rescued snakes are relocated to suitable habitats that maintain ecosystem balance and public safety.
Looking ahead, FOS aims to implement machine learning models to forecast snake activity, a first-of-its-kind initiative that could significantly reduce snakebite incidents, especially in rural areas where the risk is higher. This effort aligns with the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming by the Government of India, with the goal of cutting snakebite deaths in half by 2030.
For more information about FOS’s work or to support their mission, visit www.friendsofsnakes.org.
About Friends of Snakes Society
Founded in 1995, the Friends of Snakes Society (FOS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of snakes and the resolution of human-wildlife conflicts in Telangana, India. Through rescue operations, rehabilitation, and public education, FOS promotes peaceful coexistence between humans and snakes.