Bengaluru, Nov 24 (NationPress) The government of Karnataka has announced the establishment of a dedicated team for the rescue of King Cobras in an effort to curb the exploitation and misconduct often associated with snake rescues in the state's hilly and coastal areas, as confirmed by forest officials on Monday. The Regional Forest Officers (RFO) will be responsible for training five personnel in every forest zone where King Cobras are prevalent.

This initiative has been positively received by environmentalists, who believe it will help eliminate the misuse of King Cobras in the Western Ghats under the guise of research.

Concerns have been raised regarding NGOs and private entities allegedly breaching the Wildlife Act, prompting calls for an investigation into those involved in King Cobra research.

Furthermore, it has been observed that there have been no reported cases of local residents killing King Cobras or fatalities resulting from natural bites, indicating that a narrative of conflict between humans and King Cobras is being fabricated to justify commercial ventures.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has stated that, akin to the established Elephant Task Force (ETF) and Leopard Task Force (LTF), the government is forming a specialized unit to manage King Cobra rescues, which will also aid in preventing exploitation under the banner of snake rescue.

This decision was made following a meeting with officials in Ajjampura of Chikkamagaluru district. The minister emphasized the need for a special team to capture the increasingly sighted King Cobras in the Malenadu region. Instead of relying on private organizations, he instructed that five staff members from the Forest Department be trained to safely capture and release King Cobras back into their natural habitat.

King Cobras have been frequently spotted in the districts of Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada, Shivamogga, and Udupi, appearing not only in forests but also in human habitats, including homes and plantations, which has instilled fear among the local population.

In response, Eshwar Khandre asserted that there is no need to rely on reptile experts or private organizations. Instead, the focus will be on training Forest Department personnel to capture and safely release the snakes back into the wild. A team of five trained individuals, overseen by a regional forest officer, will be appointed for this initiative.

Previously, complaints had been lodged against NGOs, with accusations that commercial operations were taking place within an eco-sensitive zone and that research permits were being misused. To address these issues, the Forest Minister is ensuring that only authorized forest personnel will manage King Cobra rescues, and a trained departmental team will be deployed for this task.