​5 harmless snakes in India that are secretly helping you every day

The first thing that comes to mind when one hears of snakes is fear. The image of a cobra or a viper strikes their mind immediately. This leads to the common belief that all snakes are deadly. However, this could not be further from the truth. Across India, many common snake species are non-venomous and play an extremely important role in maintaining the delicate balance of nature.
Snakes are often misunderstood because of widespread myths and fear associated with them. In reality, many species are harmless and beneficial, playing a crucial role in controlling pests and maintaining ecological balance in both rural and urban environments.
These snakes are not a threat. Instead, they work hard behind the scenes, controlling pest populations, safeguarding agricultural interests, and helping maintain the balance of nature. However, these snakes are being killed due to ignorance and fear. When one takes a closer look at these species of snakes, one realises how important they really are.

The rat snake is one of the most commonly sighted snakes in India, especially in rural and semi-urban regions.

The rat snake, as the name suggests, survives on rats and rodents. This makes the rat snake highly beneficial as it not only helps in the reduction of crop damage but also prevents the spread of diseases that rodents may cause.

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It is often seen near water bodies such as ponds, lakes, and rice fields. The checkered keelback is an excellent swimmer. Many people think that this snake is poisonous because of its habitat. However, it is actually harmless.

It mainly feeds on frogs and small fish. The presence of this snake is actually an indication of a good water environment.

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The green vine snake is slender, bright green, and adapted to tree life. The docile nature and beauty of this snake make it one of the most interesting to watch.

The green vine snake is a carnivore that feeds on lizards, frogs, and small birds. The mild venom that this snake has is not harmful to humans.

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The common trinket snake is quick, alert, and misinterpreted. Due to their appearance, people may assume that this snake is dangerous. However, it is harmless to humans.

The common trinket snake is important in agriculture because it feeds on rats, mice, and reptiles. This is beneficial in that it helps farmers protect their crops without using any chemicals.

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Indian Rock Python is one of the longest snakes in the country. The size of the Indian Rock Python alone makes it look intimidating, but it is not venomous and has a calm temperament, too. It prefers to stay away from humans, but when provoked, it turns defensive.

Indian Rock Python feeds on rodents, birds, and small mammals, keeping the rodent population under control in the process. It is also protected under Indian wildlife laws, and it is declared a near-threatened species.PC: Wikipedia