Chennai’s 24-YO Has Rescued 6000 Snakes in 9 Yrs


A puppy stylist by means of occupation, Vedhapriya Ganesan (24) from Chennai is an honorary natural world rescuer. She additionally rehabilitates rescued snakes and conducts consciousness programmes about natural world conservation.

When Vedhapriya Ganesan was once simply 3 years outdated, she discovered a new child shrew (moonjur eli in Tamil) at the back of her anganwadi, and the mummy was once lacking. Disturbed by means of the animal’s plight, she discovered a tailor close by and requested him to sew a small swing for the animal. Then, she rocked him in it like one would a human child!

“Each day, I’d move and spot the moonjur to verify it was once doing smartly,” she says.

That was once Vedhapriya’s starting of a lifelong tryst with animals. As she grew older, her love for animals grew into compassion and a necessity to give protection to them.

A faculty travel to the snake park ignited a hobby for snakes on this now 24-year-old girl. “That was once my first travel to the snake park. We have been taught about other species of snakes by means of Dr S R Ganesh, who’s a herpetologist. I discovered his communicate interesting, and the reptiles, much more so,” Vedhapriya tells The Higher India.

As a resident of Chennai, all weekends and vacations supposed visits to the Vandalur Zoo (Arignar Anna Zoological Park), Guindy Nationwide Park, and Chennai Snake Park.

Rescuing her first snake at 16

Vedhapriya has rescued over 6000 snakes so far
Vedhapriya has rescued over 6,000 snakes to this point.

She recollects her first rescue find it irresistible was once the day gone by.

There was once a snake within the house the place she lived. “A bunch of other people had accumulated with sticks of their palms. We used to name the woodland division each time we noticed a snake. Then again, they have been busy that day and would take a minimum of an hour to come back to the spot at Maduravoyal. So, to forestall the onlookers from beating the snake, I lifted it,” she stocks.

It was once later that she realised that the snake was once in reality a cobra!

Vedhapriya with an elephant
Vedhapriya works in animal rescue and rehabilitation.

Vedhapriya then determined to get right kind coaching in order that she may well be higher ready for such scenarios. And who higher to be told from than the Irulas — a tribe identified for his or her snake-catching talents.

“The Irulas generally don’t train this ability to others. You in point of fact want to win their believe.  Since many more youthful Irulas are these days pursuing schooling, they agreed to show me. They guided me really well. I additionally did some skilled lessons in cobra rescue,” she provides.

Whilst nonetheless in faculty, she began volunteering with animal welfare organisations, the Central Zoo Authority of India, Blue Pass, and Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary. She additionally started operating with the Western Ghat Flora and fauna Conservation Accept as true with (WGWCT) the place she continues to paintings as the manager co-ordinator for Chennai and the natural world control specialist.

As they paintings carefully with the Tamil Nadu Woodland Division, Vedhapriya is ceaselessly known as on for natural world rescues. She says she has rescued greater than 6,000 snakes to this point and recounts a rescue the place a kid was once caught within a space with a snake.

“A pair who stayed in a close-by side road got here working to my space in the future. A snake had entered their space the place their toddler was once taking part in. About 50 other people have been status outdoor however nobody was once in a position to lend a hand the infant. Once I entered the home, I used to be stunned to peer that the snake was once busy looking to consume a lizard and the infant was once luckily taking part in. I stuck the snake after it ate the lizard,” she stocks.

As opposed to snakes, the natural world rescuer has additionally rescued and rehabilitated monkeys, black kites, and different birds.

“Every time the woodland division officers are busy, they ask us to move for the rescues. I additionally behavior coaching periods for the hearth division officers along side more than a few consciousness programmes,” she provides.

‘All creatures have equivalent rights’

Vedhapriya has specialised in wildlife rescue
Vedhapriya has specialized in natural world rescue.

There are just a few girls on this box these days, and Vedhapriya says that now and again, she faces uncomfortable scenarios whilst executing rescue operations.

“Probably the most qualities this is wanted whilst rescuing a snake is crowd control. We will have to now not lose our cool or focal point. The snake is already below tension; we will be able to’t get stressed out too. However in sure spaces, individuals are very uncouth. They discuss in some way that makes you’re feeling uncomfortable. I nonetheless organize to take care of my composure and concentrate on the duty to hand,” she provides.

It’s for this composure and ability that she is widely recognized. N Parthiban, president of WGWCT, calls her some of the best possible within the box. “We paintings within the human-wildlife warfare house. Vedhapriya has been with us for the previous 8 years and excels at her paintings. She conducts natural world rescues, offers them first help, and leads consciousness programmes. We paintings throughout Madurai, Pollachi, Coimbatore and Chennai,” he says.

All of the paintings that Vedhapriya does at WGWCT and different organisations is honorary. To improve her circle of relatives, she works as a puppy stylist.

Vedhapriya loves animals
Vedhapriya has specialized in natural world rescue.

“My function is to lend a hand everybody remember that all creatures have equivalent rights. Don’t harm or kill any species,” she remarks.

If you want to lend a hand Vedhapriya and the WGWCT with snake rescue apparatus, you’ll touch her at 9940540921.

Edited by means of Pranita Bhat



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