Abstract

Dr. Ankita Sunil Mukhedkar*

ABSTRACT

The snakes of India play an integral role in the biological diversity of India; however, they are also responsible for creating significant human-animal conflict and therefore pose unique challenges to medicine and law. This paper reviews important items from the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA), as well as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2024 (BNS 2024), with a special focus on how they relate to medical practitioners who deal with snake bites or illegal activities involving snakes. The WPA prohibits the killing, possessing, trading or rescuing of any protected species of snakes without obtaining prior permission. Moreover, the BNS 2024 imposes a much stricter punishment for offences related to fraud, neglect and putting public safety at risk when dealing with wildlife illegally. Issues surrounding the practices of snake charmers, exotic animal owners, and those who participate in snake rescue operations and venom trafficking, as well as the definition of legal self-defence, are evaluated in the context of both Acts. As successful community health programmes, such as the National Snakebite Initiative (NSI), SERPENT emergency response app, and anti-venom distribution systems are highlighted as critical components of addressing the high rate of snakebite associated mortality in India, recommendations are made to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) regarding: (1) improvements to the Schedules, (2) development of digital tracking technology that will create a chain-of-custody for snakes and other wildlife, (3) establish forensic databases, (4) develop fast-track wildlife courts, and (5) implement artificial intelligence surveillance technology to address wildlife smuggling and improve conservation efforts.