A rising number of snake encounters in residential and office spaces is causing significant alarm among the citizens of Coimbatore. The local fire and rescue services department has already received more than 600 calls for snake rescues until November this year, highlighting the escalating scale of the issue.
Firefighters Stretched Thin, Experts Flag Concerns
While the fire department has personnel trained to handle such calls, they are not specialized snake experts. P Alagarsamy, an assistant fire officer in Coimbatore, confirmed that snake sightings have become commonplace. Their teams use snake catcher sticks and release the captured reptiles in forested areas on the city's outskirts. According to their data, Russell's viper and the Indian cobra are the most frequently encountered species, with cobras making up a staggering 80% of their rescues.
However, a forest department officer pointed out a critical gap: firefighters' methods and tools might inadvertently harm the snakes, underscoring the need for expert intervention.
Naagam App: A Tech-Driven Solution for Responsible Rescue
In response to this growing challenge, the forest department launched a potential game-changer in July – the Naagam (Networked Alerts and Geographic Aid for Animal Management) mobile application. Although not yet publicly available, the app is designed to streamline the reporting and rescue process.
Once operational, it will allow citizens to report sightings efficiently. The platform will then use location-based alerts to dispatch the nearest certified and trained snake rescuer swiftly. The app aims to connect people with ethical rescuers, maintain an incident database for ecological monitoring, and serve as an educational tool to help the public identify local species and reduce panic.
Training Rescuers to Save Lives – Human and Reptile
Parallel to the app's development, the forest department is actively bolstering its network of trained rescuers. Recently, it organized a one-day training program for over 150 registered rescuers from Coimbatore, Tirupur, and the Nilgiris districts. These rescuers have been added to the Naagam network, with nearly 70 from Coimbatore alone, according to Siraj Deen of the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust.
V Saanthakumar, a rescuer with the First Heart Foundation Network, explained their current direct-response protocol, which prioritizes the snake's welfare by minimizing travel stress. The forest department's planned training will further focus on safety protocols, first aid, and proper equipment use to prevent fatalities during rescue operations, aiming to protect both humans and the reptiles.
As Coimbatore grapples with this slithering urban invasion, the combined approach of technological innovation through the Naagam app and the professionalization of snake rescue efforts offers a hopeful path forward to manage the crisis responsibly.
