Human Snake Conflict Inside Coffee Forests (INeedCoffee.com)

Human Snake Conflict Inside Coffee Forests

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Readers are requested to refer to Snake Diversity and Conservation Inside Coffee Forests for a better understanding of the present article.

The Biblical curse has a curious reference about snakes.

Cursed are you above all the live stock and all the wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel

Hence the animosity between the two - MAN and SNAKE is innate and time memorial.

Shade grown ecofriendly Indian coffee has many unique distinctions. The rare assemblages of flora and fauna in the coffee forests make it one of the most important biodiversity hotspots of the world. Lurking in the forest one can find a bizarre collection of snakes. The presence of different snake species speaks volumes about the fertility status of the coffee forests. In fact for hundreds of years; snakes have acted as powerful symbols to the village folk in balancing the energy flows inside shade grown coffee forests.

Coffee farmers living in and around the forest corridor are known for the conservation of forest wealth. In the early days of farming, farmers had great respect for the forest resources and worked in close cooperation with nature. Farmers were aware of the beneficial role; snakes played in the coffee ecosystem, eating rodents and smaller prey. Even though, the concept of conservation is well supported by the coffee farmers, it is the modern day practices of using powerful; result oriented chemicals that have put undue pressure on the land. Toxic chemicals have found their way into food chains.

This paper throws light on the increasing pressure on the fast dwindling coffee forest resources, resulting in the destruction of snake habitats. This is the single most important contributing factor resulting in the conflict between coffee farmers and reptiles.

For some strange reasons, snakes have always been associated with fear in the minds of most coffee farmers. The inborn fear regarding their toxic venom plays a key role in killing most snakes, irrespective of whether they are poisonous or nonpoisonous. An interesting fact is that only 150 out of 2000 species of snakes are poisonous.

The coffee forests provide a perfect micro habitat for the proliferation of various snake species. Three important species of venomous snakes, namely the spectacled cobra, Russell’s viper and common krait are commonly observed inside coffee forests and often come face to face with coffee farmers.

All the three snake species occupy a variety of habitats, from densely wooded forests to the open wetlands bordering the coffee farms. They are often found under the biomass or on coffee bushes. The fact of the matter is that these three species of snakes are known to use venom only in case of self defense.

Human made habitats close to the place of dwelling like garden lawns, haystacks, godowns and firewood storage places attract lizards and rodents which form the stable diet of most of these snakes. Also, inside the coffee farms most of the mud roads in-between coffee blocks are kept clean resulting in the exposure of sunlight directly on the ground, inviting the cold blooded creatures to regulate their body temperature in the open.

REASONS ASSOCIATED WITH CONFLICT

Expansion of coffee forests into lowlands and wet lands.

WETLAND ECOLOGY:

Wetland ecosystems play an ecologically important role in maintaining the balance between predator and prey species. They serve as an ideal habitat for many species of frogs, fish, rodents and reptiles. The wetland ecology also provides as a key breeding site for various species of smaller insects which acts as a source of food for snakes. However, these ecologically sensitive wetlands, bordering the upland coffee forests have been severely reduced and fragmented into arecanut gardens and coffee plantations.

Loss of virgin forests due to new clearings.
Increasing biotic pressure, both from within the coffee mountain as well as from the fringes.
Indiscriminate use of pesticides, weedicides and chemical fertilizers.

Snakes are particularly sensitive to chemicals and fertilizers. The Snake skin is very soft and can easily imbibe the chemicals present on the floor of the coffee forest. This can cause irreversible damage not only to the snake morphology but also to their resulting offsprings.The eggs too are vulnerable to pesticides and weedicide application.

Nitrate Pollution of water sources.
Setting up of animal traps.

SNAKE BITE AVOIDANCE

Adequate lighting in and around the living quarters.
Fire wood stacks to be set up far away from the house.
Workers need to be protected with footwear.
Workers need to be provided with adequate lighting (torch lights) during night times.

HOW TO MINIMISE CONFLICTS

The most basic requirements are willingness and inclination to learn and differentiate the poisonous and the no venomous snakes. The minute the farmers or the workers, spot a snake; they should be in a position to distinguish between a triangular and a round headed snake and the patterns associated with the snake. Both coffee farmers and workers need to be educated regarding the ecologically significant role played by snakes in maintaining the ecological integrity of the coffee forests.

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