In the late 1980s, Hyderabad-resident Rajkumar Kanuri and his friends decided they had to do something to conserve the reptile population in ever-expanding urban spaces.
Almost 30 years later, what started off as a small experiment in Secunderabad's Sainikpuri area, is now a well-known NGO that works for the conservation of snakes in Telangana.
The Friends of Snakes Society (FOSS) attends almost 200-300 distress calls every day.
Besides the rescue and relocation of the reptiles, the FOSS also holds several educational and awareness programs in schools, colleges and companies, besides working with the Forest Department to curb anti-poaching activities.
"By around 1992-93, we started holding several awareness programs, busting myths that people generally have, where snakes are concerned. In 1995, we formally registered the organisation," Avinash Visvanathan, Chief Functionary of the organisation told TNM.
Avinash says that the initial days were tough, and their activities were restricted just to Secunderabad until around 2000.
Our initial movement grew only through word of mouth. If someone found a snake, someone would inform them that there was this group that rescued them, and they would pass the message to someone else and so on.Avinash Visvanathan, FOSS Chief Functionary
"It was very restricted in the initial days. When we had grown to around 20-30 members, the media picked up on us, and this gave us a major boost," he adds.
In 2010, the organisation was dealt a personal blow when its founder, Rajkumar Kanuri, passed away due to cerebral malaria.
"We lost a great leader with an even better outlook. It did come as a shock to us, but the organisation has continued growing," says Avinash.
Today, the organisation has around 70 volunteers and a 24x7 helpline, which puts them just a call away.
Two people coordinate the helpline, and the organisation has spread its roots to five districts in Telangana, besides having a firm foothold in Hyderabad.
In October last year, when a snake brought things to a halt in Hyderabad's crowded KBR park junction, it was the FOSS that stepped in to diffuse the situation.
Even during the heavy rains that lashed Hyderabad last year, when several people found large snakes entering their houses along with the flood water, it was the FOSS that stepped in and worked tirelessly to rehabilitate several of these reptiles.
The FOSS wants to change the apathy that people have towards snakes. Most snakes in India are non-venomous, and often pay the cost for human ignorance, the organisation says.
Regular awareness sessions have certainly helped a lot since we first set up. At least now, people call us, instead of looking for a stone or stick to kill the snake.Avinash
When asked about FOSS' future plans, he adds, "We are in no hurry to expand, but we do want to cover the entire state of Telangana, before branching out to other places."
The FOSS helpline can be contacted at +918374233366.
(The story first appeared on The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)
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