Greetings
of the New Year!!
Living
with Pythons 2017.
‘Living
with Pythons’ is a nationwide initiative kick started in 2017 by Nirmal U Kulkarni,
Goa based herpetologist and wildlife photographer to create awareness and
instill appreciation about India’s 3 Python species. These include the Indian
Rock Python (Python molurus), Burmese Python (Python bivittatus) and
Reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus).
Together,
these snakes represent some of the largest snake species of the world. While
the Reticulated python is now acknowledged as one of the largest snakes in the
world, the Burmese python is a near threatened species in its range in Burma.
Illegal skin trade and habitat loss have taken a heavy toll and one ray of hope
is forest of North East India where few populations survive.
The
species found in Goa, and across the Indian mainland commonly, The Indian Rock
python has been now accepted as threatened due to human reptile conflict and
habitat loss.
This
initiative aims to thus promote acceptance, awareness and understanding about
these python species through conservation outreach and field based herpetology
techniques.
The initiative aims to
achieve these objectives through on field discussions, engagements with
communities, youth and Forest Department personnel.
This project will also
contribute to creating awareness on the issue of human- snake conflicts that
are key to python survival in human dominated rural and urban landscapes.
A specific target group of
reptile enthusiasts and amateur snake handlers and rescuers in the states of
Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra will also be sensitized on these ecologically important
species.
Beside which the initiative proposes to address a need for a common protocol for Python
rescue and release, as it will help minimize and address issues relating
reptile-human conflict and provide vital answers to this growing challenge
especially in urban India.
The illustration for the logo has been done by
wildlife artist Nitesh Parulekar while the design has been executed by
Printer’s Devils, Porvorim, Goa. The illustration is the head representation of
the Indian rock python.
On a personal level, Nirmal Kulkarni, Team Lead and
herpetologist states that he has dedicated the year 2017 for the cause of
Indian python species and seeks support from the public to support this
initiatiave.
Thanks and cheers
Nirmal Kulkarni
Team Lead
‘Living with Pythons’
