Assam University campus and its adjoining areas are having a very high diversity of plants and animals and snakes are no exception. There are frequent reports of encounters and sightings of snakes on the campus and many of them are even critically endangered. In a bid to increase awareness about snakes and to dispel various myths and misconceptions amongst the AU community and its adjoining population an awareness programme titled OPHIDIOPHOBIA: AN EFFECT TO REDRESS was arranged on Friday at Assam University.

Programme who was presided over by in-charge Vice Chancellor Prof. G. P. Pandey. Prof. Parthankar Choudhury, Dean School of Environment Science, Prof. Joysree Rout, and representative of forest and environment Deputy Conservator of Forest Juran Ali Ahmed were also present.

Sagnik Choudhury, President AUNTCA in his welcome address explained the background and the need of arranging the programme.

Prof. Parthankar Choudhury while elaborating on the long research by him and his students on snakes, cited various incidents of snake bites and several rescue and safe releases of snakes in the forest.

The highlight of the programme was the presentation by researchers on snakes. Presentations by Sumit Nath, Biswajit Singh, Shibam Sarkar. They discussed various practical aspects like distinction; poisonous and non-poisonous species available in the locality; the importance of snakes for the environment; various ways to protect ourselves from snakebites etc.

Dr. Devdatta Biswas Medical Officer of Assam University discussed various ways of managing snakebites and it’s medical aspects.

Dr. Surajit Giri, a snakebite social activist, and a doctor of Demow rural community health centre Sivasagar in a live video conferencing explained his vast experience of saving thousands of lives since 2008. He stressed the need of creating awareness about snakes. According to him, there is a very strong necessity of training medical and paramedical staff to handle snake bites related emergencies.

He is of the view that timely medical attention can save a person even if it is a bite from a deadly poisonous snake. He stressed the need of removing superstitions and appealed to all that everybody should take immediate medical attention in such accidental cases.

The event was moderated by Dr. Panna Deb and ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Shovan Dutta Gupta coordinator of the programme.

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