Chennai: Wildlife officials in Chennai on Wednesday arrested eight persons of Irula tribe community for catching around 360 snakes from a sugar mill in Kancheepuram.

The tribes have handled the snakes without obtaining necessary permission and the rescued snakes are now under quarantine at wildlife rescue centre, said Velachery headquarters ranger C. Murugesan.

Snake catchers from Sivagangai, Tuticorin and Paramakudi have been booked under the Wildlife protection Act, 1972, for handling endangered animals. The
reptiles including 150 venomous cobras and a Russel’s Viper were dumped in 12 sacks posing danger to both men and the wild. The irony is that after catching the venomous snakes, they took a power nap without realising the risk in
handling such large number of snakes. A notice had also been slapped against the sugar mill authorities seeking explanation, the ranger said.

Non-venomous rat snake and four red sand boas were also rescued. The snakes after a brief quarantine period will be released back in to the wild, the ranger added.

According to local foresters, the accused were paid Rs 100 for each snake that was caught. The state has stopped venom extraction of snakes and it is carried out only by those permitted. Handling of snake is a crime as it is a scheduled animal protected under the WP Act, foresters adde