SNAKEBITE IN INDIA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5341, 19 October 1928, Page 4

SNAKEBITE IN INDIA.

19,069 DEATHS CAUSED. The serioius menace ,which spakes and wild animals constitute] to, .human life in India is illustrated by the fact that last year, according tq statistics just published by the Goveriimeht of India, no fewer than 24,000 people were killed by them. The snake, owing to its, habits, was naturally responsible; for the large majority of the deaths —in fac,t, 19,069 people died from snakebite during 1927. But this large mortality is not nsfmarkable when it is remembered that 90 per cent, of the people of the country never wear shoes, and sei are an easy prey .to' cobras, kr.aits, and other venomous, reptiles. Moreover a Hindu's religion teaches 'him to rcr vere the snake, particularly the dreaded cobra, and he will never kill one, even if it crosses his path, or crawls into the roof of his house. Other sec.ts, do not hesitate to kill snakes whenever they can, and to .these the Gdvernmeiit offers a reward for every snake killed afl)d reported at the nearest magistrate’s office. The number of snakels repojrted as killed last year W.a;s 57,116, and the amount paid out, in rewards was R 51240, or abqut £9B. Tigerg were responsible Ifor 1033 deaths of human beings, wolves for 465, leopards) for 218, bears for 78, elephants for SO 1 and hyenas for 12. Of 430 deaths from other animajs 140 arq assigned to crocodiles), 85 to wild boars and pigs, and 45 to. jackals.

Curiously enough, the number of tigers killed by men is nearly the same as the number qf men killed, by tigers. Against the 1033 human victims 1068 tigprs wcire killed. During tine year: 25,612 wild apimals were killed. Of these 4390 were leopards, 237? were bears, a.rtd 24 39 were wolves. The Government paid Rs 139,453 in rewards for the destruction Cjf wild animals.