A Field Day
Saevus|December 2017 - February 2018

Each day is different when you’re radio tracking cobras and working as a field assistant at the Sakaerat Biopshere Reserve, Thailand.

Krunal Trivedi
A Field Day

I’ve always been fascinated by snakes so much so that at the age of 13, I attended an outreach program for snakes in Surat. During the program I learnt how important snakes are to our ecosystem and how deeply they are misunderstood in Indian culture. It was around the same time, when I decided to enter this field and learn more about them. The journey was not easy. It took 4 years to convince my parents to let me work in this field, though I had already begun learning about and rescuing snakes few months after the outreach program.

After engineering, I also completed the Basic course of Herpetology from Bombay Natural History Society to enhance my knowledge in this field. I started exploring places like Agumbe, Amboli, Goa, Matheran etc. in search of snakes and frogs. In 2015, I became a project coordinator at Nature Club Surat, an NGO working on environment conservation education and research since 1985. This position gave me a chance to learn more about wildlife conservation. Soon, various projects such as deer breeding project, vulture conservation project, human-leopard conflict mitigation program, wetland conservation project and camera trapping also followed. However, my interest was in studying snakes. Finally, the day arrived when I was selected as a field assistant for the Sakaerat Najas Project in 2016

DREAM COME TRUE

Based at the Sakaerat Environmental Research Station within Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve in Thailand, Sakaerat Najas Project is a research project dedicated to advancing current scientific knowledge and conservation of true cobras, focussing on Indochinese Spitting Cobra (Naja siamensis) and Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia). The project aims to improve cohabitation and reduce human/snake conflicts by developing recommendations for the reserve’s rural communities. Radio telemetry is the main method used to understand spatial ecology of cobras.

This story is from the December 2017 - February 2018 edition of Saevus.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 2017 - February 2018 edition of Saevus.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SAEVUSView All
Staying ALIVE!
Saevus

Staying ALIVE!

The importance of getting to the root causes of conflict with wildlife, is essential. Its mitigation will guarantee the very survival of all species.

time-read
8 mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24
Frames from the WILD
Saevus

Frames from the WILD

A few amazing shots from a horde of incredible ones!

time-read
3 mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24
WAKE UP!
Saevus

WAKE UP!

A frightening thought a world without wildlife, mornings without birdsong, and all that we take for granted! We must realise the dangers threatening the beauteous green world and its inhabitants around us!

time-read
4 mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24
Dolphin DILEMMA!
Saevus

Dolphin DILEMMA!

A crucial article to highlight the significance, and plight of Our riverine friends.

time-read
3 mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24
Gecko Quest!
Saevus

Gecko Quest!

The authors take us on the trail of a gecko from West Bengal, through the hills of the Bankura district.

time-read
2 mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24
Endangered EXOTICA!
Saevus

Endangered EXOTICA!

The author takes us on an exotic ride into the forests of Malaysia, allowing us glimpses of the beauties of its wildlife!

time-read
3 mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24
Mellifluous Magpie!
Saevus

Mellifluous Magpie!

Immerse yourselves in the world of the musical and glorious Magpie Robin! The authors help acquaint us with this beautiful bird.

time-read
10+ mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24
Think Different!
Saevus

Think Different!

The author brings to us the very real concern for the horses employed around pilgrimage sites in India.

time-read
4 mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24
Take Heed!
Saevus

Take Heed!

The authors make a case for the conservation of the rare and lesser-known Sociable Lapwing.

time-read
6 mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24
Close Encounters!
Saevus

Close Encounters!

The author introduces us to two amazing yet very different bird species, showing us the diversity of our ecosystems,

time-read
4 mins  |
SAEVUS NOVEMBER 23 MARCH 24