Letter from the Patron’s desk :

Dear Friends,

It is my pleasure and honour to be a supporter and patron member of PAWS-Mumbai (Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai). This is an organization founded and run by young people who are fighting for the environment and animal welfare and go all out to do their bit. These youth are a fine example of today’s generation -- conscientious, responsible citizens who care about conservation of nature, wildlife and animals too.

I have been witness to the workings of the PAWS-Mumbai team since its inception when it started off as a first aid and wildlife rescue group. Even then they were very active. Thanks to their commitment, they have now grown into an animal welfare organization to reckon with in Mumbai. Interestingly, it’s the only NGO in Mumbai who takes up issues concerning both animal and the environment. Their success can be tracked from all the newspaper coverage they receive for their animal rescues and environmental crusades.

Nothing can happen without team work and support from many of our well-wishers, so I urge you all to kindly keep supporting PAWS-Mumbai, so that it may soon be able to achieve its dream of becoming a full-fledged up and running organization that can help even more animals and take up more environmental issues.

May God bless us and give us the strength to work harder for the good of the environment and animals.

Warm wishes,

Anju Mahendroo
Anju Mahendroo is an animal lover involved in with various animal welfare activities. She is also associated with various animal welfare groups including PAWS-Mumbai as a Patron Member and is one of our strongest supporters. She has essayed numerous roles in films like Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye, Saathiya and Page 3, and is currently working on a television series on Zee TV called Vivah.

Letter from the Patron’s desk :

Dear Friends,

Let me begin by letting you in on how this whole association with PAWS-Mumbai happened for me. One fine evening I received an invitation via sms and then followed up by a phone call from one Sunish Subramanian. I was infact at the time been thinking of lending my support and getting involved with an organisation or NGO that was going about doing their service diligently and responsibly. Being an animal lover myself and also someone who understands the need to protect nature in the times we living in, I took to what sunish said seriously. He followed up on our conversation with material pertaining to the organisation PAWS-Mumbai. I was seriously impressed at this man's passion for his selfless work. He relentlessly goes about helping rescue, injured, sick and abandoned animals all for the love he has for them.

One man can only do so much.......only with the assistance of like minded people (volunteers) today Sunish has formed a team he calls Plant & Animals Welfare Society -Mumbai. Now that the team is unified in a cause they are in action every day on call just to help the voiceless and distressed. They are in constant need for some kind of support from people who share this common desire to help. I have been privileged to be associated as a patron member of PAWS-Mumbai. I am constantly made aware of their relentless work through the daily newspapers. I have put my faith in a very trustworthy organisation and am proud of their work.

I humbly urge you to have faith in PAWS-Mumbai as I have, and contribute in whatever way possible to fuel this selfless work they are doing for society. Our help will ensure an uninterrupted functioning of this noble operation. May God bless you for helping the Voiceless essentials of this universe.

Warmest regards

Shayan Munshi


Shayan Munshi is model turned actor & an ardent animal love, he is associated with PAWS-Mumbai as Patron Member. His latest offerings as an entertainment artist in films like Jhankaar Beats, The Bong Connection, Ahista Ahista are few of them.

Letter from the Patron's desk :

Dear Friends,

It gives me great pleasure and it is a tremendous honor to serve as patron member of Plant & Animals Welfare Society – Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai). I have observed how this relatively young NGO has working with commendable dedication in achieving its goals to rescue animals in distress on a daily basis while also making the time for preventive measures such as rabies vaccination and tetanus shot drive.

PAWS-Mumbai operates solely on the financial support offered by individuals who understand the need for funding every small and large task they set out to perform. Without such funding these volunteers who sacrifice their own convenience and leisure are left without the essential tools required to make a huge difference in our city. I have witnessed the humility with which they need to ask for monetary help to accomplish certain goals and when they have received such support, the members of PAWS-Mumbai are immediate to utilize it most efficiently for the purpose stated and also provide updates of their activities via email and newsletters. Their success stories are numerous and include rescuing, healing and conducting the necessary required for creatures ranging from exotic birds to circus animals to everyday beasts of burden and stray animals that need care and monitoring.

Nothing can be accomplished without teamwork, and today I reach out to you to contribute in whatever manner is possible as often as you can to help make the vital difference required for a progressive and safe society.

With God’s Blessing upon us, I thank you deeply for your kind support to help keep our universe healthy and harm-free.

Warm regards,
Sincerely,

Seema Rahmani

Seema Rahmani is an ardent animal lover involved in various causes such as rescues, sterilizations and other animal welfare activities and is associated with PAWS-Mumbai as a Patron Member. Her latest offerings as an entertainment artist is Loins of Punjab, and she is currently also hosting a TV Show on NDTV Good Times called Heavy Petting.

First Aid Tips…………… by Dr Deepa Katyal

What must you do as a volunteer if u see …………….

A dog/cat with maggot wound ( on body other than eyes, ears and mouth).

If the dog is not manageable then directly pour choloroform or spray d’mag etc or powder with anti maggot property .This will atleast kill all the wound producing maggot or fly larvae, ensure that the product is applied as much as on the skin surface, you can cover .

If it’s a big wound dressing may be required twice a day or atleast once a day till the wound heals completely, Maggot wounds required to be redressed as the wounds attract flies to deposite repeated rafts or eggs, along with demaggot sprays it is equally important to identify and remove fly eggs or rafts. Oozing wounds attract flies to keep depositing their eggs on the wound discharge, it is therefore advisable to retreat the wound repeatedly especially if it is big one.

Once the maggots are dead, it is also important to remove the dead maggots with the help of forceps to prevent pus formation.

Basic antibiotics such as Cap Baxin, tab pentid or tab augmentin can be given under veterinary guidance.

A dog/cat with maggot wound (on eyes, ears and mouth).

Wounds in other parts should be carefully treated by putting ivermectin in liquid form either injectable or oral preparations as available, Such areas are very sensitive and anti maggot agents other than these can create other side effects esp. coloroform can cause severe side effects is used on or over eye wounds, inside the ears or within the, mouth

Oral ivermectin tablets can also be given if it can be made available. Human preparations are also easily available at regular chemists.

It is basically recommended that the dog be admitted if the wound is very big and regular treatment of the wound dressing cannot be done as maggot wounds can become very difficult to treat if not controlled in time.

Dressing of regular wounds Scratch , dog/cat bite or tear wounds

Such wounds can be dressed with povidone iodine solutions, calendula tinchure cleaning the wounds as well as removal of dead scabs should be done, to allow the wound to breath, if the dog is easily manageable cutting of hair around the wound is a must, especially in complying dogs. It is often advisable not to apply cream based antiseptics, as the dogs can lick the wounds and create additional complication. Bandaging the wounds must be done only if it possible for the volunteer to redress the wounds. In wounds that have pus like discharge cleaning should be complemented with use of Neosporin powder or antibiotic based creams or other agents (preferably use agents that are safe when licked, under veterinary guidance).The products are best effective if used after wound cleaning.

Essential tips

• Wounds can be as a result of external parasites eg. Fleas, louse and Mites unless the primary source is not taken care, severe itching can lead to repeated self inflection and therefore a wound, and later on even maggoted if not addressed on time .It is therefore important to use specific medicines to control the external parasites first. A traditional home remedy of eucalyptus oil can be used against treatment of fleas and louse. Mite treatment may require veterinary attention apart from ivermectin tablets which help treating scabies as well as demodectic (mange).

• Dressing a wound in the street dog depends on the temperament of the canine if the dog submits easily then it is possible to clip/cut the hair around the wound before dressing, if the dog is not very complying then the necessary wound dressing such as pour the demaggot sprays to kill the maggots or pouring the anti septics for other wound should be done at first before additional attention is to be given.

• Oral tablets should be complemented in suppurating wounds depending on the severity antibiotics can be given at regular interval.
• Using concentrated dettol, kerosene, petrol on wounds can lead to burning of skin tissue and delay of wound healing.

• Use of turmeric powder on superficial wounds can be done provided it doesn’t interfere in healing of big wounds which require to breath. Turmeric helps keep flies away but excess powder can delay ound healing.

• Prophalactic antirabies inoculation must be taken by all volunteers before handling stays.

Essential first aid for volunteers

1. Cotton roll
2. Povidone iodine as well as tinchure iodine
3. Calendula tinchure (liquid) homeopathic medicine called mother tichure, aids in healing on repeated use on wounds.
4. Spirit.(antiseptic)
5. Guaze(for bandaging)
6. Ivermectin tabs or injectable if possible, choloroform , dmar or doline spray (veterinary anti maggot sprays)or even negasunt powder ( bayer product that is anti maggot )
7. Mouth muzzle or simple home use nadas
8. Scissors as well as forceps if possible.

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Dr Deepa Katyal is a small animal practitioner involved in animal welfare work. A Double masters, from Mumbai Veterinary College as well as Second Masters from Australia and Working both for pet animals as well as street animal work since the past 11 years, Working as a trustee for People for Animals and involved in various bird as well as wild life rescues etc. Is a firm believer of the fact that “All creatures big or small have the right to share space with humans with diginity on the surface of the earth ”.

Citizens Right to Save our Mother Earth ......

Constitution of India & Fundamental Duties

India is the only country, whose Constitution casts a Fundamental Duty of every citizen to be kind and compassionate to animals.

Part IV
Directive Principles of Sate Policy
Article 48 : Organisation of agriculture and Animal Husbandry – The State shall endeavour to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and claves and other milch and draught cattle.

Article 48–A : Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forest wildlife. The State shall endeavour to Protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.

Part IV A
Fundamental Duties
Article 51–A : Fundamental Duties – It shall be the duty of every citizen of India –
(g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.

You Can Make A Difference !
Demand implementation of Existing Animal Laws

Punishable Offences

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Under Section 11
Offences
1. Beating, kicking, overriding, torturing or causing any animal pain or suffering by the owner or any other person (Tongawallas and cart-owners). Using any animal for work when it is wounded or unfit.

2. Overloading
Any weight exceeding the limits given below :
Two wheeled Vehicles Kgs.
without Ball Bearing or
Pneumatic Tyres
Small Bullock or Buffalo 500
Medium Bullock or Buffalo 700
Large Bullock or Buffalo 900
Horse 500
Camel 1000

Pack Animals Kgs.
Small Bullock or Buffalo 100
Medium Bullock or Buffalo 150
Large Bullock or Buffalo 175
Pony 70
Mule 200
Donkey 50
Camel 250

Permissible loading in a truck is only 6 buffaloes or 40 sheep/goats. Only 4 passengers excluding the driver are allowed on a tonga or a total of 325 Kgs.
3. Carrying or transporting animals in such a manner that it causes suffering. Carrying of chickens upside down on cycles, carrying of goats, pigs, cattle with their legs tied in small vehicles.

4. Caging or confining an animal in a cage, which does not allow the animal sufficient space for movement. Overcowding of animals in yards and during transportation for slaughter. This applies to the cages of circus animals & mini zoos as well.

5. Caging or confining an animal in a cage, which does not allow the animal sufficient space for movement. Overcowding of animals in yards and during transportation for slaughter. This applies to the cages of circus animals & mini zoos as well.

6. Mutilating an animal : Cutting ears or tails, cutting the beaks of birds or clipping their wings & breaking legs for transportation.

7. Giving any animal an injurious drug. All dairy owners who give oxytocin injections to their milch cattle can be raided and their dairies shut down. Also look at Section 12.

8. Organisation or offering an area for animal fights or baiting of animals (Cock or ram fighting, snake and mongoose fights).

Penalty
All these offences are punishable with a fine or with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three months or with both.

Under Section 12
Offence
9. Any person using injections of any kind, conducting any operation called Phooka or Doom Dev to improve lactation of cows or any other milch cattle (e.g. Oxytocin injections). Penalty
The offender may be punished with a fine, which may extend to one thousand rupees or with imprisonment, which may extend to two years or with both and the animal confiscated by the Government.

Under Section 21 & 22
Offence
10. It is an offence to exhibit and train performing animals. (All madaris, snake charmers, bear and monkey performers are covered under this Section. Animal “Joyrides” are also covered under this Act.) Under Govt. notification GSR 619 (E) dated 14.10.1998 circuses may not use the following animals for training or exhibition : Bears, Monkeys, Tigers, Panthers and Lions.

Penalty
The offender may be punished with a fine or with imprisonment, which my extend to three months or with both.

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
Under Section 9, 39, 40(2), 49B
Offences
11. Hunting, keeping or breeding of any wild animals and birds.

12. Acquiring, receiving, keeping in control, custody or possession, selling wild animals like monkeys, snakes, bears etc. or any wild birds. This includes parakeets and mynahs.
13. Selling skins or meat of wild animals. This includes monitor lizard oil or oil made of any other creature. Stuffed squirrels, snake skins and peacock feathers.

Penalty
The offender shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than one year, which may extend to six years and also with a fine, which shall not be less than five thousand rupees.

Under Section 38 (J)
Offence
14. Teasing, injuring or causing disturbance in the zoo

Penalty
The offender shall be punishable with imprisonment for six months or with fine, which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both.

Indian Penal Code, 1860
Under Section 428, 429
Offence
15. Mischief of killing or maiming of an animal of any value above ten rupees. This includes bulls, oxen, horses, mules, camels etc.

Penalty
The offender shall be punishable with imprisonment, which may extend to two / five years or with a fine or with both.

Bombay Police Act, 1951
Under Section 73 to 78 & 99
Under this Act the Police has been give special powers to take action, when an animal offence has been committed.
When a Police Officer has reason to believe an offence under Section 11 and 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals act has occurred, he may seize the animal and take it to a veterinary office.
The police officer can keep the animal in a dispensary before it is produced before a magistrate, so long as the time does not exceed three days. A Police Officer may unsaddle or unload an animal he suspects is unfit or too sick to carry out the work it is doing.
A Police Officer may arrest, without a warrant from a magistrate, any person committing in his presence any offence publishable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act.

Performing Animals Rules, 1973 & 2001
Offences

1. Not being registered under this chapter exhibits or trains any performing animal.
2. Being registered under the PCA Act, 1960, exhibits or trains any performing animal with respect to which or in a manner with respect to which, he is not registered.
3. Exhibits or trains as performing animal, any animal which is not to be used for the purpose by reason of a notification issued under clause (ii) of Section 22 of the PCA Act of 1960.
4. Obstructs or willfully delays any person or police officer referred to in section 25 in the exercise of powers under this Act as to entry and inspection.
5. Conceals any animal with a view to avoiding such inspection.Being a person registered under the Act, on being duly required in pursuance of this Act to produce his certificate under this Act, fails without reasonable excuse so to do.
6. Applies to be registered under this Act when not entitled to be so registered

Penalty
He shall be punishable on conviction with fine or with imprisonment, which may extend to three months or with both.

PAWS-Mumbai Activities:

Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation

Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation is essential in conserving local wildlife populations and is critical in sustaining the balance of nature and countering multiple manmade threats that are so recurrent in a city. Rescue and rehabilitation translated mean the science of treating and providing temporary care for injured or displaced wildlife and the subsequent return of healthy individuals to appropriate habitats. Till date, the PAWS – Mumbai rescue team has rescued many snakes, parrots, mongoose, monitor lizards, muniyas, kites, owls, treated them and thereafter released them back into the wild. All this work has been acknowledged and backed by the city’s wildlife department. Keeping watch on wildlife trade & organizing raids.

Humane Education

With the help of mediums like video screening, live talks and interaction, the society tries to create awareness about animal welfare and inform the public about animal laws and issues related to it. PAWS – Mumbai strongly feels that humane education is essential if the condition of animals has to improve.

Adoptions & Rehoming

Innumerable homeless and abandoned animals have been re-homed through our adoption Scheme. Adoption is done only after rigorous interviews.

Legal Issues & Cruelty Cases

Members of the PAWS – Mumbai team and Honorary Animal Welfare Officers also investigate cruelty cases, which include rescue calls. PAWS – Mumbai also initiates action against people inflicting cruelty on animals and inspect circuses and zoos. Inspection reports are thereafter sent to the respective authorities to further investigation.

First Aid for Strays

PAWS – Mumbai trustees and volunteers personally pound the pavements treating injured animals. Almost every evening and after work hours, PAWS - Mumbai volunteers go seeking out sick, injured animals on the road and give them some much-needed first aid. At times, the volunteers forward cases to the veterinarians or take them to nearest hospital by ambulance; in past we use to take them by bike or a hired vehicle. There have also been instances where members of the group have treated and removed maggots from the animals like dogs, cats and cows.

Ambulance Service *

PAWS-Mumbai as two ambulance to help city animals in distress, one of it is run to attend (take) accident, wounded, ill stray animals calls to the nearest clinic or to the hospital and to take dogs for ABC. And other one is especially use for wildlife rescue found in city limit and we also provide our ambulance to wildlife department for transport of rescued wildlife during raids.

Sterilization & Vaccination

As everybody know that Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stopped killing dogs. Unfortunately, they have doe little to assist in the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for street dogs.

This is another area where PAWS – Mumbai has done managed to do a good job sans a hospital. PAWS – Mumbai team members pick up cats and dogs from the street, from compounds and colonies and take them in our ambulance to nearest ABC center and gets them sterilized. The animals are later released back into the areas they were picked up from. These dogs and cats are also branded to ensure that everyone knows that they are sterilized and vaccinated against rabies.

The PAWS – Mumbai team also goes into localities around the city and conducts vaccination camps for stray dogs and cats so that they are immunized against rabies. These animals are also de-wormed on a regular basis.

Help & Co-ordinate with Other Like Minded NGOs

PAWS – Mumbai aims at helping and co-ordinating activities with other like-minded NGO’s so that it can reach out to more animals. At PAWS – Mumbai, we sincerely feel that the animal welfare movement should grow and in keeping with our mission, ‘together we can and we will make a difference’ will happen only when we co-ordinate our activities with other like minded NGOs.

Tree Plantation & Illegal Tree Cutting Issue

PAWS-Mumbai also undertakes tree plantation drives and takes up cudgels on the behalf of those who oppose tree cutting. For example, if someone complains about illegal tree cutting in their neighborhood, we follow up the complaint with an investigation and also inform the local Police and BMC authorities about the misdemeanor.

* Condition Applicable

Common found Snake in residential areas of Mumbai & near by areas :

Spectacled Cobra : It is Venomous snake
How to Identify : Head distinct, with large nostrils and large black eyes that have round pupils. Body colour is yellowish, dark brown or black. Spectacled mark only visible when hood is spread: this mark is subject to considerable variation and may even be absent. There are two black marks on the inside of the hood opposite the spectacled mark. When excited it raises itself off the ground.
Habitat / Habits : India’s commonest venomous snake, the cobra may be found in jungles, grasslands, paddy fields, ant hills and even in old houses. It feeds on frogs, toads, mice, small birds. It lays 10-15 eggs between April – May which hatch in about 60-70 days.

Rat Snake / Dhaman : It is Non Venomous Snake
How to Identify : Large eyes with round, yellow-bordered pupils. Vertical black lines separate lip scales. Yellowish brown, moss-green, light whitish-brown or almost black. Long, gradually tapered tail is almost one-fourth of the total body length and has a black net-like design. Downside the body is Yellowish in colour, the running speed is very fast.
Habitat / Habits : Commonly seen around the green area like garden, who climbs trees and swims well & water tanks, He can stay underwater for about ten minutes. Inflates its neck and hisses when disturbed. Feeds mainly on rats, hence he is called Rat Snake, and also on toads, frogs, lizards, geckos, small birds and bats. It lays 12-36 eggs between May – August.

Russell’s Viper : It is Venomous Snake
How to Identify : Stout, round body with thin, short tail. Its head is flat & triangular with small scales on top with large nostrils; vertical pupils. Brown body with tree rows of dark brown. Oval-shaped marks that have a white border; dark black spots between marks. Underside and lip scales white.
Habitat / Habits : Found in anthills, rat holes, fields and grasslands. Makes a loud, hissing sound when disturbed; strikes fast when provoked and its feeds mainly on rats.

Saw-Scalled Viper : It is Venomous Snake
How to Identify : Pale brown with a white-bordered, zip-zap pattern. Its body is White underneath, with tiny brown sports. Head with small scales and a white or pale brown spear mark on top. Large golden eyes have vertical black pupils. Rounded body has scales with saw-like keels and tails are short.
Habitat / Habits : Commonly seen in coastal areas. Found under boulders and thorny bushes. Though nocturnal, may be seen basking in the mornings. When disturbed, it coils and rubs its saw-like scales together to make a noise like a wood-saw. It feeds on scorpions, centipedes, geckos, skinks, frogs and small mice. Four-eight live ones are born between July-August. Young measure approximately 8-12cm.

Checkered Keelback Water Snake : It is Non Venomous Snake
Who to Identify : Large eyes have round pupils. A checkered pattern of glossy, keeled scales on the upper body with rows of black, yellow, grey or moss-green checks alternatively places with white ones. Its fore body are sometimes reddish; 2 black streaks behind the eyes; underside white.
Habitat / Habits : Found in rivers, ponds, nallas, lakes – hunting for fish in shallow waters; prefers staying on land at night. If threatened, flattens neck and strikes with mouth wide open. Mainly feed on fish and frogs. Young ones eat tadpoles and water beetles. It lays 20-40 eggs in crevices near water bodies.

Buff-Striped Keelback : It is Non Venomous Snake
How to Identify : Slender brown body tapers towards long tail; light brown or yellow stripes run along body from head to tail. Fore-body with black or dark brown bands which contain whitish spots. Head: light grayish brown with yellow lip scales; two black lines behind eyes and underside is yellow.
Habitat / Habits : Found near water bodies in marshy areas and paddy field. In is shy snake, spreads its body to display blue or red colour between scales when scared. During the mating season, six or seven males can be seen following a female. Due to pheromones (sex hormones) that are released in the air, even a recently killed female may attract males during this particular season. This has given rise to the misbelieve that at least six more snake turn up it Buff-Striped Keelback is killed. Feeds on frogs and toads, it lays 8-9 eggs twice a year (May-June and October – November)

Banded Kukri Snake : It is Non Venomous Snake
How to Identify : Rounded body; eyes with round pupils. Ash-or reddish brown with around 20 black or dark brown bands and usually 3 black ‘V’ shaped marks on the head, white underside sometimes with black spots, often mistake for the Banded Krait.
Habitat / Habits : Found in ant hills, crevice in rocks, tree hollows, old houses or heaps of stones. Shy in temperament, does not generally bite, it feeds on reptile eggs, geckos, skinks, and mice. Young ones survive on insects and worms. Constricts prey with 2-3 coils before swallowing it & its lays 5-7 eggs in crevices.

Common Wolf Snake : It is Non Venomous Snake
How to Identify : Body with glossy, smooth scales. Flat, broad head – distinct from neck and brown body with broad white or yellow band on neck, and white or yellow bands that are fainter towards the tail.
Habitat / Habits : Nocturnal climbs vertical wall in search of geckos. Found commonly near human habitation, it generally prefers old houses or heaps of rubble. Feed mainly on geckos and occasionally on skinks and frogs. Its lays 4-11 eggs during March-May & New born snakes have a translucent skin.

Common Sand Boa : It is Non Venomous Snake
How to Identify : Keeled, small scales on head; thick body; short, blunt, rough, pointed tail and small eyes with vertical pupils. Nostrils placed high on the head. Ventral scales narrower than width of the body. Sand coloured or brown with darker brown with darker blotches. Often mistaken for the young of the Indian Rock Python or Russell’s Viper.
Habitat / Habits : Found in sandy area, prefers to live in crevices or burrows. Short tempered; coils and hides head under body when disturbed. If provoked, strikes with a jerky movement. Otherwise, a slow moving snake. Feeds mainly on squirrels, lizards and skinks; Gives birth to 7-9 young that are about 8cm long.

Indian Rock Python : It is Non Venomous Snake / Maximum length :760cm
How to Identify : Stout body with smooth, shiny scale. Eyes with vertical pupils short, prehensile tail. Labial pits on lip scales are thermo-receptors and help snake locate warm blooded prey. Dark brown blotches on a grey, off-white or pale brown body. Head with arrow-shaped mark that is incomplete in front and Impure white, pinkish-brown or yellow underside
Habitat / Habits : Founded in forests and also open areas and even agricultural, live in rocks areas near water bodies. It can stay under water for up to 30 minutes. Feed mainly on small mammals, also preys on water birds and monitor lizards. Excretes undigested part of the prey body like horns, hooves, teeth, hair and beaks. Two months after mating during January- March, 8-100eggs, 12 x 6cm size are laid. The female stays with the eggs till they hatch.

Common Indian Krait : It is Venomous Snake / Maximum length : 175cm
How to Identify : Body with smooth, glossy scales – those of the upper most row are hexagonal and distinctly enlarged. Blue or black, occasionally dark brown body with single or paired white bands. The bands are more distinct towards the tail.
Habitat / Habits : Shy temperament. Feeds mostly on snakes – sometimes even other kraits; occasionally eats mice, frogs or lizards. Lays to 10-12 eggs in May.

Common Vine Snake : It is Venomous Snake / Maximum length : 200cm
How to Identify : Long, thin body and tail. Elongate, pointed head with large golden – yellow eyes that have horizontal pupils. Bright or dark green body, sometimes with a bluish tint. Light green underside with thin white line on either side. Brown form resembles the Brown Vine Snake.
Habitat / Habits : Found on small bushes and trees. When disturbed, enlarge forebody to display a black and white pattern that is otherwise hidden under the scales. May strile with mouth wide open. Feeds on lizards, frogs and small birds. Gives birth from 3-23 young (depending on the size of the mother: larger snakes bear more young).

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How you can help : If you see any snakes in residential area, don’t kill, call an snake rescue team, please keep an watch on it, till rescue team reach the spot, don’t disturb the snake. Don’t make sound & crowd around the snake, so that rescuer can easily carryout his rescue operation. PAWS-Mumbai Wildlife Rescue Helpline : 9833480388 / 9892179542