Snakes in India are treated with not only fear but also prayerful worship. However, many a species is in grave danger because of several reasons.
The most important of them is deforestation. The felling of trees is a big blow to reptiles. Most reptiles live in forests.
As India’s population grows rapidly, forests are disappearing and reptiles face the danger of being wiped out. Highways that cut through forests are deadly for these hapless animals. Many meet their end under wheels of vehicles as they try to cross these roads. Although many snakes eat rats and thus help farmers, all snakes mistakenly believed to be dangerous, and are killed in every encounter. Crocodiles are also killed for the same reason. Many species of turtles were used as food and medicine.
However, there is improvement in these matters today, thanks to the efforts of wildlife officers, and the rising publicity about the threatened status of these turtles. The illegal pet trade is another threat to turtles.
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