48 snakes rescued from Chandigarh every month, released

CHANDIGARH: As many as 48 snakes were rescued from the city and then released in the forested areas every month.
In 2023-2024, the UT wildlife department rescued 575 snakes from different areas. Majority of these rescues were reported from the industrial areas, and northern sectors, particularly those near Sukhna Lake and forest areas.
In the same period, the department rescued and released 40 monkeys, 68 other mammals, and 121 birds.
“Human-wildlife conflict has become one of the serious problems in the entire country. Due to loss of habitat or habitat degradation, some of the reptiles and mammals come out of forests and enter the city area. To manage this problem, the department of forests & wildlife has constituted a full-time wildlife squad operating 24x7. All the required equipment are available with the department to manage any and every kind of situation,” said a department official.
During a rescue operation, a hydraulic based lift for injured animals is used by the department in order to reduce the stress level of the animal.
A hotline (0172-2700217) is maintained for wildlife rescue towards efficient information dissemination and better handling.
“Not a single call can go unreported,” said the official.