BENGALURU: Despite a ban on trading in exotic animal skins in India, the practice continues illegally and trading in sand boa species of snakes is rampant across Karnataka.
There is a huge demand for endangered sand boas in the global market, especially China, south-east Asia and in the West, where they are used in cancer research. Boas are used for making medicines, aphrodisiacs, cosmetics and in black magic rituals. Its skin is used in the leather industry for making purses, handbags and jackets.
Recently, three people were held for smuggling sand boas from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu on Sathyamangala-Mysuru National Highway at Asanur.
In September, a rare red sand boa was rescued from smugglers at Chikkajala. This variety of sand boa is worth `1 crore in the international market.
Wildlife activist G Veeresh says, “Since it is harmless and easy to catch, they are easily poached. In Karnataka, organised groups are involved in snake smuggling.
They network with other people, encourage villagers, farmers and tribals to catch these harmless snakes. Locals are paid handsomely to hunt for snakes in agricultural fields and forest areas.”
With a huge demand for its skin, each snake is traded for around `2-5 lakh. The price of sand boas depends on their weight (3.5-4 kg).