Hyderabad: Telangana Forest Department opened a snake rescue centre in collaboration with Friends of Snake Society on Friday in Bowrampet in Medchal district. It is good news for wild life conservationist and snakes that are rescued from urban areas in around and Hyderabad.

The new facility was inaugurated on the occasion of World Environment Day. Telangana Forest Minister A. Indra Karan Reddy inaugurated the centre on Friday. Speaking to the occasion he said “If you encounter a snake, the best thing to do is leave it alone and call F.O.S.S or forest department.

He also inaugurated the official website and online ticket booking centre for Nehru Zoological Park at Aranya Bhavan in Saifabad. According to the officials, the new system, which is being setup to ensure that social distancing and other health norms are strictly followed once the lock down restrictions are lifted, can be utilized after the Zoo re-opens for the public.

We currently have about 30 snakes in the facility, of which three species are venomous and the rest are non-venomous, said Friends of Snake Society member Avinash Viswanatham. The Chief Wild Life warden will allocate different forest areas away from human habitation where all these snakes will be relocated within a week time. It will conduct awareness programs for people who are visiting the park in which the rescue centre is located, said F.O.S.S.