The Maharashtra forest authority approved a temporary permit to capture 41 male Indian cobras in Battis Shirala for educational demonstrations from Aug. 10–20. Legal adviser Dhiraj Mirajkar has challenged the move, saying it may sidestep a court ban on using live snakes during Nag Panchami (Aug. 17). Officials insist the exemption is solely educational, with veterinary oversight, mandatory health reports and photographic documentation, and that all snakes will be released back into the wild.
Maharashtra Permits Capture of 41 Cobras for ‘Educational’ Displays — Critics Say It May Sidestep Nag Panchami Ban
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Authorities in Maharashtra issued a temporary permit to capture 41 male Indian cobras in Battis Shirala for educational demonstrations between Aug. 10 and Aug. 20, a decision that has reignited debate over wildlife protection and a religious custom tied to live-snake worship.
What Officials Said
According to local reports, the principal chief conservator of forests authorized the Sangli forest department to capture the cobras for structured demonstrations described as educational. Officials said the exemption is not intended for religious rituals, and they pledged that all snakes would be returned to the wild after the event.
"We have placed one range forest officer for every four permit holders to monitor the capture, display and release. For every 10 permit holders, one veterinary doctor will be present. They should ensure the reptile is not harmed by any means and have to provide the report on its health before the release," said a senior forest department official.
Officials also said they will use photography and videography to document each capture and release and will maintain records of the demonstrations and animal health reports.
Why It's Controversial
The decision was challenged by Dhiraj Mirajkar, the forest department's longtime legal adviser, who warned the permit could be an attempt to circumvent court-ordered restrictions on using live snakes during Nag Panchami — the Hindu festival observed on Aug. 17. Live-snake worship during Nag Panchami has been prohibited since a 2006 court ruling following a legal challenge by wildlife activists.
Context And Local Incidents
Incidents from other parts of India illustrate how quickly cobra sightings can escalate into capture, relocation and public alarm, underscoring the pressures on people and rescue teams who handle venomous snakes near homes:
- In Kota, residents panicked after cobras appeared in two homes, including one sighting near a box of ladoos.
- In Gujarat, rescuers safely returned a cobra to the wild after it was found inside a house.
- In Telangana, a snake catcher captured a cobra for relocation after it entered an elderly couple's home.
The permit in Maharashtra highlights tensions between cultural practices, legal rulings and animal-welfare concerns. Critics say strict oversight and transparent documentation will be essential if demonstrations are genuinely educational; advocates for tradition and local festivals argue for sensitive, law-abiding ways to preserve customs without harming wildlife.
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