The steel city's snake rescue team was honoured by the Jamshedpur forest division for their contribution towards the society at a function at Patel Bagan in Sundarnagar on Friday.

The Jamshedpur forest division organised the programme as part of a week-long Van Mahotsav as well as World Snake Day.

World Snake Day is an important day when it comes to increasing awareness about the different species of snake all around the world. Snakes tend to have a negative connotation. A lot of people are scared of snakes. Snakes are important in the ecosystem.

There are more than 3,500 species of snakes out of which around 600 are venomous. There are only 200 species of snake that pose a considerable risk to human life.

JMM's Potka legislator Sanjeev Sardar felicitated the team by presenting a snake rescue kit. Jamshedpur forest division DFO Mamta Proyaradshi and other forest personnel were present at the occasion.

The kit included a tong, hook and a bag. The snake rescue team of Mithilesh Srivastava also known as Chhotu, Tarun Kalindi alias Chiku, Rahul Singh, Veer Gope and Bishnu Srivastava. Rajni Lahal, also a member, could not make it to the felicitation programme.

Sardar appreciated the work being done by the snake rescue team and said the members were an important part of the society. "The snake rescue team is not only saving the snakes from being killed but also spreading awareness about the dos and don'ts while spotting a reptile. I feel happy presenting the team a snake rescue kit," he added.

Five hundred saplings were also sown at Patel Bagan during the event.

Mithilesh Sriuvastava, a veteran snake catcher, thanked the MLA and Jamshedpur forest division and said the team was trying to increase the members of the group. "We are only six members, including a woman. We are trying hard to increase the number of members so that we can effectively cover the city and its surrounding pockets," he added.

Sometimes it is seen that people even kill non-venomous snakes. "People kill snakes due to lack of awareness. Fear forces them to kill snakes. We spread awareness and ask people to contact us instead of killing the reptiles. We reach to rescue snakes once we receive calls. The snakes are rescued and released in the jungles," said Veer Gope, a team member.