In a notable development, the Friends of Snake Society (FoSS) in collaboration with the State Forest department has reported a five-fold increase in snake rescues in Telangana over the past ten years. From 3,097 in 2016 to 15,265 in 2025, the number of snakes rescued indicates a significant trend.
Last year alone witnessed a total of 15,265 snake rescues across the state, with venomous species constituting 55.61% of these reptiles. Majority of the rescues were concentrated in urban and peri-urban areas, with hotspots including Miyapur, Dammaiguda, Nagaram, Rampally, Manikonda, Bandalguda Jagir, Vanasthalipuram, Balapur, and other regions within the Outer Ring Road limits.
An analysis of data on species composition revealed that Spectacled Cobras constituted 49.3% (7,525) of the rescued snakes followed by Rat Snakes (3587), Checkered keelback (1195), and Russell’s Viper (897). The dominance of venomous snakes in these rescues has key implications on public safety and necessitates trained intervention during snake rescues, as highlighted by Avinash Visvanathan, general secretary of FoSS.
The high number of venomous species rescued within urban and peri-urban regions suggests their ecological adaptability to human-modified environments that provide prey, shelter, and water. Although the number of non-venomous snakes rescued was fewer, they comprised a wide range of guilds, indicating the continued presence of diverse microhabitats within the urban landscape. However, their displacement into human spaces signifies increasing habitat compression and loss of ecological buffers.
The hotspots of rescue incidents correspond with rapid residential and infrastructure development zones, indicating that ongoing construction overlaps with remnant natural habitats, as per FoSS. The high-intensity human-snake conflict is most pronounced in these areas where development is encroaching upon remaining natural ecosystems.
As we navigate through 2026, the Friends of Snakes Society will continue its efforts to rescue and release snakes into suitable habitats while advocating for habitat conservation and awareness campaigns to minimize human-snake conflicts.
