📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / अंकुश नारायणकर
Local
Sangli Forest Dept. Grants Permission to Capture 41 Cobras, Sparking Public Outcry
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 27 Aug 2026, 12:03 PM
👁 29
The Sangli forest department in Maharashtra has approved a plan to capture 41 cobras, a decision that has drawn criticism from animal welfare groups and local residents.
The Sangli forest department in Maharashtra has granted permission to capture 41 cobras from the local forest area. The move was justified by officials as a measure to reduce the risk of snakebite incidents in nearby villages.
Animal welfare activists and several local NGOs have condemned the decision, arguing that the capture of venomous snakes could disrupt the ecological balance and pose a threat to the community if the snakes are not handled properly.
The forest department has not released details on the method of capture or the intended destination of the snakes. Residents of Sangli district have expressed concerns over the lack of transparency and the potential for increased human–snake encounters during the operation.
The controversy has prompted calls for a review of wildlife management policies in the region and for greater involvement of local communities in decision‑making processes.
Animal welfare activists and several local NGOs have condemned the decision, arguing that the capture of venomous snakes could disrupt the ecological balance and pose a threat to the community if the snakes are not handled properly.
The forest department has not released details on the method of capture or the intended destination of the snakes. Residents of Sangli district have expressed concerns over the lack of transparency and the potential for increased human–snake encounters during the operation.
The controversy has prompted calls for a review of wildlife management policies in the region and for greater involvement of local communities in decision‑making processes.