Guwahati, June 17: Tackling snakebite is no longer just a wildlife or medical concern—it has become a public health priority in Assam.
With its integrated and science-driven approach, the state is emerging as a national leader in addressing human-snake conflict through coordinated efforts spanning forest officials, conservationists, health workers, and community stakeholders.
This vision came into focus during a State-Level Consultation on Human-Snake Conflict Management held on Monday at the Assam State Zoo. The consultation, jointly organised by the Assam Forest Department, Help Earth, and the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT), with support from the University of Reading (UK), brought together a cross-section of experts and stakeholders to review and strengthen Assam’s strategy for managing snake-human interactions.
Among the key attendees were Dr. Vinay Kumar Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam; Dr. Parimal Chandra Bhattacharjee, retired professor of Zoology at Gauhati University; Jayashree Naiding, Senior Wildlife Warden; Dr. Ashwini Kumar, Director of Assam State Zoo; and Dr. S.A. Laskar, State Nodal Officer for Snakebite Prevention under NHM-Assam. Representatives from Wildlife Trust of India, WWF India, and snake rescuers from across the state were also present.
Anchored by Gnaneswar Ch of MCBT, the consultation featured sessions on Assam’s flagship SARPA Assam initiative—focused on standardizing snake rescue and documentation—alongside updates on the documentation of over 70 snake species and a review of the National Action Plan for Snakebite Prevention and Control (NAPSE). An emotional account from a snakebite survivor, Korobi, drove home the need for awareness, timely treatment, and a more responsive rescue system.
The consultation concluded with several key recommendations: development of region-specific antivenoms, establishment of venom collection centres, multilingual expansion of the SARPA app, and institutional support for ethical snake rescuers. NHM-Assam’s progress in formulating combination drug kits and deploying snakebite protocols in rural hospitals was also highlighted as a national model.
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