The ‘Nepal Snake Festival’ has been organized at Kawasoti on the occasion of Naag Panchami. The two-day Festival was organized with the aim of reducing the conflict between humans and snakes, and thereby preserving snakes. Kamal Devkota, a snake conservationist, said that the snake festival was organized for the first time in Nepal under the auspices of Nepal Toxinology Association, the District Division Forest Office Nawalpur and Health Office Nawalpur, Nepal Red Cross Society and Madhyabindu Multiple Campus.
At the festival, various stalls are set up to provide information about snakes, snake bites and snake protection. Especially in summer, the number of snakebite patients increases in Terai region and death occurs if not treated in time. “Snakes are as important as humans on earth, because snakes are also a part of the ecological system”, Devkota said. “Only 20 percent of snakes are venomous, 80 percent of snakes are non-venomous, you should not panic if you are bitten by a snake,” says Dr. Chabilal Thapa, Focal Person of Snake Bite Management.
There are many types of misconceptions about snakes in the public mind and in some cases many people have lost their lives due to the lack of general knowledge about snakes and snake bites. Mukesh Rana, a student who participated in the festival, said earlier he used to identify snakes only by looking at the color, now he can identify snakes by looking at the skin. “I have gained knowledge about what to do when bitten by a snake, how to manage snakes.” —
