SNAKES

SNAKE CHARMER

KALBELIYAS The Kalbeliyas catch wild snakes and work as street performers - the animals rise from the charmer's basket in response to the motion of his flute, rather than the sound. A few make a good living from tourists, but the majority are very poor. In 1972, the Indian Wildlife Protection Act made all the country's wild animals government property. The blanket ban on snake collecting is also destroying the Kalbeliyas' traditions and knowledge. Older charmers are a fund of zoological and botanical lore; they sell herbal medicines as a sideline to performing.

KALBELIYA DANCE http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=KALBELIYAS&ei=UTF-8&vs=www.dailymotion.com

SNAKE HATCHING

COBRA

POISONOUS SNAKES The common krait. Russell's viper. Indian Cobra The saw-scaled viper.

RATTLE SNAKE

NON-POISONOUS SNAKES Hognose snake Green Vine Snake Black Rat Snake Garter Snake SCARLET KINGSNAKE Texas rat snake

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POISONOUS AND NON-POISONOUS SNAKES

TREATMENT FOR SNAKE BITE Call for emergency assistance immediately if someone has been bitten by a snake. Responding quickly in this type of emergency is crucial. While waiting for emergency assistance: Wash the bite with soap and water. Immobilize the bitten area and keep it lower than the heart. Cover the area with a clean, cool compress or a moist dressing to minimize swelling and discomfort. Give Anti venom.

Antivenom (or antivenin or antivenene) is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. Antivenom is created by injecting a small amount of the targeted venom into an animal such as a horse, sheep, goat, or rabbit; the subject animal will undergo an immune response to the venom, producing antibodies against the venom's active molecule which can then be harvested from the animal's blood and used to treat envenomation. MILKING THE SNAKE TO MAKE ANTI VENOM.