ZIRO, Jul 23: A three-day training programme on ‘Snake rescue and handling’ concluded here in Lower Subansiri district on Monday.
Speaking about the objective of the programme, Divisional Forest Officer Koj Rinya said, “Snakes are a lesser understood species and therefore one of the most feared creatures. It is necessary that we improve our understanding and perception about snakes, and learn how to handle them in given situation.”
Renowned herpetologist Gerard Navin Martin spoke on various features of the programme, such as snake behaviour, human-snake conflict, snake bite treatment, and rescue protocol, while RFO Kime Rambiya, who was accompanied by his rescue team from the Pakke Tiger Reserve, spoke about “the local experiences of rescuing snakes.”
Eighty participants, including DMO Dr Tage Kanno, other doctors, forest officials, members of NGOs, and BSc students from DNGC Itanagar attended the programme, which was organized by the Hapoli forest division and the Garry Martin Project.
The theory and field exercises of the training programme were conducted at Hahke-Tari and Pange Camp in the Tale Wildlife Sanctuary.
