Utilizing Snake Rescue Data to Understand Snake Distribution Pattern and Human-Snake Conflict in Pakur Forest Division, Jharkhand India

Snakes are an integral part of the ecosystems in which they operate and are related to humans in direct as well as indirect ways. Snakes play a significant role by feeding on a wide range of animals. At the same time, they also serve as prey to other animals. Snakes, commonly known as the friends of farmers, serve as natural predators of rodent pests that pose a threat to agricultural fields. In India, the snake fauna is extremely diverse and rich (Vyas, 2013). It is home to over 270 species of snakes, including 60 venomous (Whitakar and Captain 2008). Unfortunately, due to insufficient knowledge and awareness among the population and farmers, these snakes are often killed without recognizing their vital role (Bharath et al., 2021). Snakes, unlike most wild animals, are more likely to share the living space with humans in rural and urban landscapes alike, in extremely close proximity. Notably, some of these snake species are potentially dangerous to humans. Close encounters of humans with snakes are, for the most part, inevitable, as these animals (including venomous species) have successfully adapted to live close to human habitations that provide easy prey. These species are either pulled into such habitations in search of prey or are pushed out of natural habitats due to fragmentation and destruction of the same (MoEF&CC 2023). 

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Study Area:

The study was conducted in Pakur Forest Division. It is located at (23º40” N to 25º18” N latitude and 86º25” E to 87º57” E longitude) (Fig. 1). Spreads over an area of 92.88 sq. km. Pakur Forest Division is situated entirely within the Pakur District in the north-eastern portion of Santhal Pargana in Jharkhand. The forests of Pakur Division comprise of 14.43 sq. km. of Reserved Forests, 57.60 sq. km. of Protected Forests and 20.84 sq. km. of Unclassed Forests. Administratively, the forests of Pakur Division are split into 3 Forest Ranges namely- Pakur (7.15 sq. km.), Hiranpur (50.06 sq. km.) and Amrapar (35.66. sq. km.) (Sharma, 2016). Pakur is predominantly a hilly area with certain pockets of plain land. Topographically it is divided into three parts i.e. the hilly area, the rolling area and alluvial area. The hilly area includes the whole of Damini-i-koh from northern corner of Pakur district up to the south-west bordering the Birbhum district of West Bengal. A narrow continuous strip of alluvial soil which lies between the Ganga feeder canal and the loop line of Eastern Railway is very fertile. The rest of the part covers the Rolling areas, which is less conducive for agriculture (Sharma, 2016). Average altitude of the division is about 300 meters above MSL. There are three main rivers in this division namely, Bansloi, Torai & Brahmini. Rivers Bansloi & Torai flow in the middle while Brahmini flows in the Southern portion of the division. The division is characterized by three distinct seasons – summer, rainy and winter. The summers are extremely hot and last from March to May with maximum temperature rising up to 42 to 46 °C in some places. The winters are cold and last from November to February with minimum temperature going around 3 °C. The average annual rainfall is about 1354.60 mm. According to the classification of forest types of India, the forests of Pakur forest Division fall into Northern Dry Peninsular Sal Forest–5B/C-1 type, Northern Tropical Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest– 5B/C-2 type and Tropical Dry Deciduous Scrub Forest–5B/DS-1 type (Champion and Seth1968). The forest is mainly dominated by Shorea robusta trees and their associates namely- Terminalia chebula, Buchanania lanzan, Semicarpus anacardium, etc. along with occasional bamboo brakes. These forests of entire Santhal Parganas (which now include the districts of Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj, Dumka and Jamtara) were rich in wildlife at the turn of the 20th century, within the next few decades’ large mammalian fauna was wiped off due to rampant hunting and habitat loss. Birdlife is rich in these forests. (https://forest.jharkhand.gov.in/know-your-division_pakur.aspx).