Guwahati, June 22: SARPA app, an Assam initiative that standardises snake rescue and documentation process, will play a key role in mitigating human-snake conflict, feel experts.
In a recent state-level consultation on the Human-Snake Conflict Management Plan in Guwahati, experts discussed the importance and implementation of SARPA.
The app will have updates on snake conservation efforts, including documentation of over 70 species in Assam, and a critical review of the National Action Plan for Snakebite Prevention and Control (NAPSE).
Key recommendations from the open discussions included the development of region-specific antivenoms, the establishment of venom collection centres, multilingual expansion of the SARPA app and increased support for ethical snake rescuers.
Assam was lauded as being ahead of several Indian states in its structured approach to snakebite management, with NHM-Assam working towards specialised combination drugs and protocols for rural hospitals. Participants emphasised the importance of multi-sectoral coordination and public-private partnerships in taking this initiative forward.
The event was jointly organised by the Assam Forest Department, Help Earth, and Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT), with valuable support from the University of Reading (UK). It brought together experts, officials, rescuers and medical professionals to deliberate on Assam’s comprehensive strategy to mitigate human-snake conflict and improve snakebite management.
The programme was moderated by Gnaneswar Ch of the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust.
This consultation marks a crucial step toward making Assam a leader in human-snake conflict mitigation and snakebite response, with collaborative inputs from forest officials, conservationists, researchers and frontline health workers.
