In a major concern to suburban residents, the population of snakes has increased. According to sources, vacant plots have become breeding grounds for reptiles.
“I have seen a few snakes here during my childhood days, but they rarely entered residential areas as trees provided shelter for them. But now, with most of the greenery axed, they have started entering houses in the hope of finding shelter and food,” said Elavarasan, a resident of Sembakkam.
It is also said the newly-hatched snakes are the ones causing greater problems.
“Those that are large can be spotted if they move, but the little ones get in through even the smallest of gaps and settle in secluded places. I once found a snake between the sheets in my house,” said Silamabarasan, a resident of Mappedu.
“There are children around and since I was really scared, I hired a charmer, who caught the snake and left it in a nearby forest area. I then had to construct a wall around the house without any gap,” he added.
Speaking to News Today Jason, an animal activist, said, “Most snakes found in the suburbs are not venomous and don’t harm people. Its instinct when it makes human contact is to flee. However, the problem arises only when people start chasing and try to harm it. That is when the reptile, out of fear, bites the person,” he explained.
He also said it is people’s fault for destroying the animals’ natural habitat, and appealed not to kill any as these bring balance to the eco-system.