COBRA SNAKE SEIZED IN RISHIKESH along with leopard skin

A live Cobra snake and a leopard skin was seized near Rishikesh in Narendra nagar Forest Division,
Uttarakhand. The seizure was done during a joint operation of the Uttarakhand Forest Department's Anti- Poaching Cell and the Wildlife Protection Society of India with the support of the Narendranagar forest division staff. Two persons were arrested by the forest department.

Rishikesh is a tourist spot and pilgrimage centre close to Haridwar. This is a point for exchange of wildlife materials with foreigners coming in the pretext of tourism and pilgrimage. Several sages (baba) and ashrams also possess wildlife articles here. Due to heavy crowd and support of devotees, no strong action to recover these products from these ashrams and fake saints are possible. The sale of tiger and leopard claws and teeth, musk pods of musk deer,bear bile, ivory, etc. are taking place , though not very openly in these places.

Several snake charmers also make a living by showing their snakes to the devotees and getting blessings from the snake God. Pythons, Cobras and Sand Boas are the major snakes kept captive by them. Though these snake charmers are found in the open everywhere, nobody seems to rescue these snakes and put the offenders to task.

The handicraft shops also have products made of marine shells and other marine wildlife products whose trade is banned in India.