Indian snake charmers stage demonstration
Up to 1,000 snake charmers staged a rally in eastern India last week protesting against a law that has made their profession illegal.
Up to 1,000 snake charmers staged a rally in eastern India last week protesting against a law that has made their profession illegal.
Thousands of charmers still perform across India despite a law that has banned the practice. Shows featuring cobras and other snakes have been outlawed in India since 1991.
Demonstrators marched in the city of Calcutta, playing flutes, demanding the right to perform with live snakes.
Snake charmers say the ban threatens the survival of their way of life. Animal rights groups say it should be kept to curb the abuse of snakes.
Raktim Das, the head of Indias snake charmers federation, said the Government should make the traditional performance legal again.
He also said serum farms should be set up across India where snake charmers could sell venom for medical use.
We are being consistently harassed by the police for keeping snakes, which are snatched away without paying us compensation, Mr Das said.