AR-News: (Malaysia) India’s mystical snake charmers are facing eco-friendly transformatio

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

The Star Online

Tuesday June 29,  2004  
 
They take the reptiles, generally cobras, out of their sling  bags and appear 
to hypnotise them with the swaying movements of their beens and  the 
mesmerising music, which snakes, being deaf although highly sensitive to  vibrations, 
cannot hear.   
But animal rights groups say snake charmers are cruel  impostors who through 
physical abuse train the reptiles to move to the sway of  the clarinets.   
The entertainers generally rip out the fangs of the snakes  and feed them 
milk, meaning the animals usually are unable to catch prey and die  when returned 
to their natural habitat after six months or so of  performance.   
Conservationists know their work is cut out for them in  ending the 
traditional charming of snakes – which are considered holy by many  Hindus.   
“(Snake-charmers) enjoy a god-like status as they are able  to conquer these 
deadly animals,” Dutt  said. 

full story:
_http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/6/29/features/8239536&se
c=features_ 
(http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2004/6/29/features/8239536&sec=features)  


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The fate of animals is of greater importance to  me than the fear of 
appearing ridiculous; it is indissolubly connected with the  fate of men. -Emile Zola
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