2025 | 56% of snakes rescued in Telangana so far are venomous

A total of 5,954 snakes were rescued across Telangana between January 1 and June 30, 2025, by Friends of Snakes Society (FOS) in coordination with the Telangana Forest Department. Of them, 56% (3,337) of them were venomous and the rest were non-Venoumous, which were relocated to suitable forest habitats.

“Majority of the rescues happen in Hyderabad and surrounding districts of Medchal-Malkajgiri, Rangareddy, Medak, and Hyderabad,” said Avinash Visvanathan, FOS’s general secretary.

Among venomous species, the Spectacled Cobra accounted for the majority of cases, with 2,970, followed by 344 Russell’s Vipers and 23 Common Kraits. Non-venomous rescues included commonly encountered species such as the Indian Rat Snake, Checkered Keelback, and Bronzeback Tree Snake, along with rarer species like the Indian Rock Python, Red Sand Boa, and Barred Wolf Snake.

Besides the rescue work, FoS conducted over 200 snake awareness workshops, reaching over 40,000 individuals at schools, colleges, police and forest academies, public institutions, and rural communities. The focus was on the ecological importance of snakes, safe practices during snake encounters, first aid for snakebites, and debunking prevalent myths. The society’s 24/7 helpline number is 8374233366.