Snake catching training for fire fighters in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Nov 8: Fire fighters of Bhubaneswar in Orissa are all set to undergo an extensive training for catching snakes in the wake of a rise in the population of reptiles.

The trainees would be taught to locate the snakes, catch them and how to manage first aid on the outset of snakebite. They would also be taught on how to differentiate between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes.

The programme include making them aware of the menace caused by the snakebite, different kinds of snakebites and their effects.

Subhendu Mallick, a trainer from Snake Helpline Centre who will be imparting the training to the fire fighters, said that the trainees showed great spirit to get near the snakes during their training regime.

'We provided a general information about the snakes and how to provide proper first aid after a snake bite. We also taught them how to rescue snakes without harming them,' Mallick said.

The trainees will also undergo a strict training regime in dense forests of the region, where different kinds of snakes are found.

'Our aim is to make the 400 trainees aware of the reptiles. After the training programme, they would be asked to rescue snakes in emergency situations and leave them back in the forests,' said Sukant Sethi, Principal of the Fire Brigade Training Centre.

He also added that this would help in environment conservation and build the confidence of the fire fighters.

--ANI