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Forest Department Probes Killing of 52 Protected Snakes in Meerut Village

Authorities are questioning villagers to establish the exact number of snakes killed as burial sites are reviewed for potential breaches of the Wildlife Protection Act.

Forest department launches investigation after mass killing of protected snakes in Meerut village. (Sourced)
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Overview

  • Mahfooz Saifi killed an initial snake he spotted at dawn; by nightfall villagers had killed and buried 52 non-venomous snakes that emerged from beneath a ramp in his courtyard.
  • Video footage of the mass emergence circulated on social media and prompted local residents to kill and bury the snakes without notifying wildlife officials.
  • Divisional Forest Officer Rajesh Kumar confirmed the species are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, making their unauthorized killing a punishable offence.
  • A Forest Department team arrived Monday to interrogate villagers and locate burial sites to verify the total number of snakes destroyed.
  • Preliminary findings indicate the reptiles typically inhabit waterlogged areas, prompting authorities to appeal for public reporting of similar incidents and to refrain from harming protected wildlife.