Kollam (Kerala), Oct. 10 -- Over 2,850 venomous snakes have been rescued and safely relocated in Kollam district over the past five years under the Forest Department's 'Snake Awareness and Rescue Programme' (SARP), launched in 2020 to reduce snakebite deaths and promote wildlife protection.
According to data from the Social Forestry Wing, the number of snakes rescued each year has shown a steady increase - 84 in 2020, 212 in 2021, 484 in 2022, 722 in 2023, 810 in 2024, and 538 so far in 2025.
Social Forestry Assistant Conservator Koshy John said the initiative has played a crucial role in reducing snakebite fatalities in the district, which dropped from 123 deaths in 2019 to just 30 in 2024 - a 75 percent reduction.
A total of 47 trained...