OSAI

Historically snakes are shrouded in mysteries. Though Some of the snakes are scantified and revered,not all enjoy the same advantage. The recent rampant trafficking of Sand Boas, an harmless snake, following an enigmatic mythical belief is of growing concern. The Sand boas are non venomous snakes found both in forests and agriculture fields. The snake belong to the Boidae family and are related to Python. In India there are three species of Sand boas. Russell's sand Boa (Eryx conicus) and John's sand Boa (Eryx johnii) are the common ones. A new species have been described recently by herpetologists and is named as Whitaker's sand boa (Eryx whitaker)

Sand Boas are heavy and stout. Generally they grow up to 3 feet; however specimens reaching a length of 4 feet have been recorded.They have a high preference for sandy localities. As an adaptation, the mouth is placed under the projecting snout that enables them to burrow under the sand. The snakes move equally well on the land and also just bellow the sandy surfaces.They are usually sluggish in nature and hardly ever bites.

In appearance the snakes resembles a young Python. The head merging in to the body without any narrowing makes them to appear with out neck. In John's sand Boa (Eryx johnii) the tail is blunt and looks similar in shape to the head, giving its legendary two headed appearance. To portray it as a two headed snake, the snake charmers are known to make a laceration on its tail, which, upon healing looks like a mouth. When in danger, the snakes has a habit of hiding its head below its coiled body and will try to imitate the tail as its head.

These snakes are usually nocturnal and preys on rats, mice, frogs, lizards and small terrestrial nesting birds. The snakes ambush their prey by burying below the surface of the sand with only their eyes or head exposed on the surface.They kill their prey by constriction, literally squeezing the life out.

The two headed appearance of these snakes has given rise to much folk-tales. The snake is mis-believed to use the two heads alternatively for six months. Some people believe that, the bite from this snakes will cause leprosy to humans. Also, the snakes are said to possess mysteries powers to cure various ailments in human. In many countries they are kept as pets in the belief that they bring good luck.

In spite of the flourishing pet trade, the rumorer that the snake is in high demand for cancer research in western countries has fueled the rampant trafficking. Since the forests are well protected the trappers and smugglers are targeting the farmlands were they are commonly found. As the snake is a predator of rats and removing them from farmlands will certainly increase the population of rats, which in turn escalates the menace of rats in the crop fields.The reptile has been categorized under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act. In India, Capturing and involving in any kind of trade of these reptiles is punishable under this act.