Preference for net fences spikes cases of reptile deaths, injuries

Paul Fernandes

Panaji: Increasing use of as an easier option for barricading farms and compounds from stray animals is proving lethal for reptiles and other animals, as they unknowingly enter the trap to be killed or injured critically.

For years, ghost nets have been suffocating to death and maiming scores of marine animals. But in recent years, the common use of nets for fencing farms, gardens, compounds and playgrounds is making for distressing rescue situations on a rising scale on the land, too.

The nets are cheap, easily available, and quick to install, making them the preferred choice for many. What many people don’t realize is that these nets are silent killers, animal rescuer Benhail Antao said. “They trap and kill countless creatures — monkeys, the endangered pangolin, birds like kingfishers and owls, and reptiles such as snakes and monitor lizards,” he said.

The may not be necessarily set as traps, but end up entangling wild life. “With increased use of nets, the number of innocent victims is also rising, as most die slowly unless they are discovered in time by compassionate individuals,” Antao said.

At Betim, local boys recently left the field after playing football. A five and half feet long python was trapped in the net and badly injured due to its struggle till the boys returned next evening. “If they had lifted and tied the net a few feet up, the python would have passed by safely,” Panaji-based rescuer Harish Chari said. He was called to rescue the python, which had sustained several cuts, but barely survived.

Use of traditional, eco-friendly fencing with natural materials like coconut leaves is becoming rare. “This is due to high cost and labour, “Antao said.

Many even reuse discarded fishing nets for crop protection from pigs, chicken and cattle or encircle playgrounds or recreation areas with it.

The most troubling use, however, is when they are installed specifically to keep snakes away, Antao said. A trapped snake may writhe in pain for hours unnoticed. “But if someone unknowingly approaches the distressed animal, it can lead to dangerous encounters,” he said.

In Reis Magos, a big spectacled cobra was trapped in a discarded fishing net under a broken chair behind a house. Its hood was completely free and since it had not struggled, it was not dehydrated. “The elderly lady was lucky as she didn’t go close to it,” Chari said.

Animal trapped in nets is one of the most common rescue situations. “For rescuers like me, the challenge is to reach the scene quickly and handle an already distressed, frightened, and injured creature safely,” Antao said.

Saddened by their plight, rescuers reject the use of nets for fencing. “Once they are trapped, they cannot escape. A rat snake for instance can’t reverse because its scales are an obstruction,” Chari said.

Rescuers like Chari suggest the use of green cloth available on hardware stores are ideal material instead of nets.

“Despite telling people about alternatives, they don’t listen to us. It is the snakes and other animals who get injured or die, while rats chew their way out,” Bicholim-based Squad’s Amrut Singh said.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Diwali wishes, messages and quotes !