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

When Vedhapriya Ganesan was simply three years previous, she discovered a new child shrew (moonjur eli in Tamil) behind her anganwadi, and the mom was lacking. Disturbed by 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!

“Day by day, I’d go and see the moonjur to make sure it was doing properly,” she says.

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

A college journey to the snake park ignited a ardour for snakes on this now 24-year-old lady. “That was my first journey to the snake park. We had been taught about completely different species of snakes by Dr S R Ganesh, who’s a herpetologist. I discovered his speak fascinating, and the reptiles, much more so,” Vedhapriya tells The Higher India.

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

Rescuing her first snake at 16

She remembers her first rescue prefer it was yesterday.

There was a snake within the space the place she lived. “A bunch of individuals had gathered with sticks of their fingers. We used to name the forest division every time we noticed a snake. Nonetheless, they had been busy that day and would take not less than an hour to come back to the spot at Maduravoyal. So, to stop the onlookers from beating the snake, I lifted it,” she shares.

It was later that she realised that the snake was the truth is a cobra!

Vedhapriya then determined to get correct coaching in order that she may very well be higher ready for such conditions. And who higher to study from than the Irulas — a tribe identified for his or her snake-catching expertise.

“The Irulas normally don’t educate this talent to others. You actually need to win their belief.  Since many youthful Irulas are right now pursuing training, they agreed to show me. They guided me very properly. I additionally did some skilled programs in cobra rescue,” she provides.

Whereas nonetheless in faculty, she began volunteering with animal welfare organisations, the Central Zoo Authority of India, Blue Cross, and Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary. She additionally started working with the Western Ghat Wildlife Conservation Belief (WGWCT) the place she continues to work because the chief co-ordinator for Chennai and the wildlife administration specialist.

As they work intently with the Tamil Nadu Forest Division, Vedhapriya is commonly known as on for wildlife rescues. She says she has rescued greater than 6,000 snakes to date and recounts a rescue the place a toddler was caught inside a home with a snake.

“A pair who stayed in a close-by road got here operating to my home sooner or later. A snake had entered their home the place their toddler was enjoying. About 50 folks had been standing outdoors however nobody was capable of assist the newborn. After I entered the home, I used to be stunned to see that the snake was busy making an attempt to eat a lizard and the newborn was fortunately enjoying. I caught the snake after it ate the lizard,” she shares.

Apart from snakes, the wildlife rescuer has additionally rescued and rehabilitated monkeys, black kites, and different birds.

“At any time when the forest division officers are busy, they ask us to go for the rescues. I additionally conduct coaching classes for the hearth division officers together with varied consciousness programmes,” she provides.

‘All creatures have equal rights’

There are just a few girls on this subject right now, and Vedhapriya says that sometimes, she faces uncomfortable conditions whereas executing rescue operations.

“One of many qualities that’s wanted whereas rescuing a snake is crowd administration. We should not lose our cool or focus. The snake is already below stress; we are able to’t get harassed too. However in sure areas, persons are very uncouth. They converse in a manner that makes you are feeling uncomfortable. I nonetheless handle to take care of my composure and give attention to the duty at hand,” she provides.

It’s for this composure and talent that she is broadly identified. N Parthiban, president of WGWCT, calls her the most effective within the subject. “We work within the human-wildlife battle space. Vedhapriya has been with us for the previous eight years and excels at her work. She conducts wildlife rescues, provides them first assist, and leads consciousness programmes. We work throughout Madurai, Pollachi, Coimbatore and Chennai,” he says.

All of the work that Vedhapriya does at WGWCT and different organisations is honorary. To help her household, she works as a pet stylist.

“My objective is to assist everybody perceive that each one creatures have equal rights. Don’t harm or kill any species,” she remarks.

Should you want to assist Vedhapriya and the WGWCT with snake rescue gear, you possibly can contact her at 9940540921.

Edited by Pranita Bhat