Snake Shyam - Revision history

->Shells-shells: Reverting edit(s) by 2409:4071:2107:2D7A:CBA0:223B:36DB:32FF (talk) to rev. 1051828806 by GreenC: test edits (RW 16.1)

2021-12-20T16:40:17Z

Reverting edit(s) by 2409:4071:2107:2D7A:CBA0:223B:36DB:32FF (talk) to rev. 1051828806 by GreenC: test edits (RW 16.1)

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:10, 20 December 2021
Line 18:		Line 18:
	'''M. S. Balasubramania''' (alt spelling '''Balasubramanya''';<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/Snake-enthusiast-wins-MCC-election/articleshow/18910905.cms\|title=Snake enthusiast wins MCC election\|last=Milton\|first=Laurence\|date=11 March 2013\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> born 1967),<ref>{{cite magazine \|title= Snake man \|url= http://www.frontline.in/environment/conservation/snake-man/article5032396.ece \|magazine= [[Frontline (magazine)\|Frontline]] \|date= 6 September 2013 \|accessdate= 20 April 2015}}</ref> popularly known as '''Snake Shyam''', is a [[snake]] enthusiast, [[wildlife conservation]]ist and [[lecturer]] in [[Mysore]], [[India]].<ref name="Catch">Special correspondent. (14 February 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080218150551/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/14/stories/2008021450480200.htm A prize catch for the ‘naturalist on wheels’] ''[[The Hindu]]''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He was elected to the [[Mysore City Corporation]] in 2013, a role he served until 2018.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web\|url=https://citytoday.news/electorate-give-hung-verdict-in-mysuru-city-corporation-polls/\|title=Electorate give hung verdict in Mysuru City Corporation polls\|date=2018-09-03\|website=Mysuru Today\|language=en-US\|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref>		'''M. S. Balasubramania''' (alt spelling '''Balasubramanya''';<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/Snake-enthusiast-wins-MCC-election/articleshow/18910905.cms\|title=Snake enthusiast wins MCC election\|last=Milton\|first=Laurence\|date=11 March 2013\|website=The Times of India\|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> born 1967),<ref>{{cite magazine \|title= Snake man \|url= http://www.frontline.in/environment/conservation/snake-man/article5032396.ece \|magazine= [[Frontline (magazine)\|Frontline]] \|date= 6 September 2013 \|accessdate= 20 April 2015}}</ref> popularly known as '''Snake Shyam''', is a [[snake]] enthusiast, [[wildlife conservation]]ist and [[lecturer]] in [[Mysore]], [[India]].<ref name="Catch">Special correspondent. (14 February 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080218150551/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/14/stories/2008021450480200.htm A prize catch for the ‘naturalist on wheels’] ''[[The Hindu]]''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He was elected to the [[Mysore City Corporation]] in 2013, a role he served until 2018.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web\|url=https://citytoday.news/electorate-give-hung-verdict-in-mysuru-city-corporation-polls/\|title=Electorate give hung verdict in Mysuru City Corporation polls\|date=2018-09-03\|website=Mysuru Today\|language=en-US\|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref>

	Though not a trained [[herpetologist]],<ref name="Outlook">Srinivasaraju, Sugata. (29 November 2004) [http://www.outlookindia.com/mad.asp?fodname=20041129&fname=Making&sid=1 The charm of a gutless racquet] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522083243/http://www.outlookindia.com/mad.asp?fodname=20041129&fname=Making&sid=1 \|date=22 May 2006 }} ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)\|Outlook]]'' Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> Shyam is known throughout the Mysore region as a "naturalist on wheels".<ref>Special correspondent. (4 July 2005) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080107124546/http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/04/stories/2005070402090200.htm Snake falls victim to superstitious belief] ''[[The Hindu]]''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He rescues and rehabilitates snakes and educates the public about them.<ref>Staff correspondent. (26 June 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20081019114646/http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062652710200.htm 60 teenagers chosen for a course on wildlife] ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He is also sometimes consulted by local hospitals to identify a species of snake prior to treating a [[snakebite]] victim.<ref name="Hiss">Staff. (22 September 2005) ~~[http://www.hinduonnet~~.~~com/thehindu/mp/2005/09/22/stories/2005092201640100.htm~~ A hiss and tell story]. ''The Hindu''~~. Retrieved 2008-08-06.~~</ref>		Though not a trained [[herpetologist]],<ref name="Outlook">Srinivasaraju, Sugata. (29 November 2004) [http://www.outlookindia.com/mad.asp?fodname=20041129&fname=Making&sid=1 The charm of a gutless racquet] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522083243/http://www.outlookindia.com/mad.asp?fodname=20041129&fname=Making&sid=1 \|date=22 May 2006 }} ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)\|Outlook]]'' Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> Shyam is known throughout the Mysore region as a "naturalist on wheels".<ref>Special correspondent. (4 July 2005) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080107124546/http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/04/stories/2005070402090200.htm Snake falls victim to superstitious belief] ''[[The Hindu]]''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He rescues and rehabilitates snakes and educates the public about them.<ref>Staff correspondent. (26 June 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20081019114646/http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062652710200.htm 60 teenagers chosen for a course on wildlife] ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He is also sometimes consulted by local hospitals to identify a species of snake prior to treating a [[snakebite]] victim.<ref name="Hiss">Staff (22 September 2005). "A hiss and tell story". ''The Hindu''</ref>

	Shyam has been widely recognized for his work. [[National Geographic Society\|National Geographic]] featured him in its ''Croc Chronicles: Snakes, Karma, Action'' special.<ref name="Hiss"/> He has also been featured on the ''[[Discovery Channel\|Discovery]]'' channel.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/snake-catcher-corporator-read-how-mysuru-man-dons-different-roles-39207\|title=From a snake catcher to a corporator: Read how this Mysuru man dons different roles\|last=Srinivasan\|first=Sarayu\|date=19 February 2016\|website=www.thenewsminute.com\|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> [[Mysore]] city has named a street for him and has dedicated its first "urban forest" to him and fellow [[environmentalist]] Hyder Ali Khan.<ref name="Outlook"/><ref>Staff correspondent. (6 April 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080410204157/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040650910200.htm Sapgreen activities begin tomorrow]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref>		Shyam has been widely recognized for his work. [[National Geographic Society\|National Geographic]] featured him in its ''Croc Chronicles: Snakes, Karma, Action'' special.<ref name="Hiss"/> He has also been featured on the ''[[Discovery Channel\|Discovery]]'' channel.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/snake-catcher-corporator-read-how-mysuru-man-dons-different-roles-39207\|title=From a snake catcher to a corporator: Read how this Mysuru man dons different roles\|last=Srinivasan\|first=Sarayu\|date=19 February 2016\|website=www.thenewsminute.com\|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> [[Mysore]] city has named a street for him and has dedicated its first "urban forest" to him and fellow [[environmentalist]] Hyder Ali Khan.<ref name="Outlook"/><ref>Staff correspondent. (6 April 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080410204157/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040650910200.htm Sapgreen activities begin tomorrow]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref>

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 4 archive links. Wayback Medic 2.5

2021-04-21T22:07:45Z

Rescued 4 archive links. Wayback Medic 2.5

New page

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = M. S. Balasubramania
| image = Snakeshyam.JPG
| caption = Snake Shyam
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1967}}
| birth_place = Cheluvaamba Hospital, [[Krishnarajanagara]], [[Mysore State]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| other_names = Snake Bite
| known_for = Snake enthusiasm
| occupation = Snake conservationist, [[Auto rickshaw|Auto rickshaw Driver]], former Counselor - Mysore City Corporation (MCC)
| website = {{URL|snakeshyammysore.com}}
| nationality = [[India]]n
}}

'''M. S. Balasubramania''' (alt spelling '''Balasubramanya''';<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/Snake-enthusiast-wins-MCC-election/articleshow/18910905.cms|title=Snake enthusiast wins MCC election|last=Milton|first=Laurence|date=11 March 2013|website=The Times of India|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> born 1967),<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Snake man |url= http://www.frontline.in/environment/conservation/snake-man/article5032396.ece |magazine= [[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]] |date= 6 September 2013 |accessdate= 20 April 2015}}</ref> popularly known as '''Snake Shyam''', is a [[snake]] enthusiast, [[wildlife conservation]]ist and [[lecturer]] in [[Mysore]], [[India]].<ref name="Catch">Special correspondent. (14 February 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080218150551/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/14/stories/2008021450480200.htm A prize catch for the ‘naturalist on wheels’] ''[[The Hindu]]''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He was elected to the [[Mysore City Corporation]] in 2013, a role he served until 2018.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://citytoday.news/electorate-give-hung-verdict-in-mysuru-city-corporation-polls/|title=Electorate give hung verdict in Mysuru City Corporation polls|date=2018-09-03|website=Mysuru Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref>

Though not a trained [[herpetologist]],<ref name="Outlook">Srinivasaraju, Sugata. (29 November 2004) [http://www.outlookindia.com/mad.asp?fodname=20041129&fname=Making&sid=1 The charm of a gutless racquet] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522083243/http://www.outlookindia.com/mad.asp?fodname=20041129&fname=Making&sid=1 |date=22 May 2006 }} ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]'' Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> Shyam is known throughout the Mysore region as a "naturalist on wheels".<ref>Special correspondent. (4 July 2005) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080107124546/http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/04/stories/2005070402090200.htm Snake falls victim to superstitious belief] ''[[The Hindu]]''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He rescues and rehabilitates snakes and educates the public about them.<ref>Staff correspondent. (26 June 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20081019114646/http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/26/stories/2007062652710200.htm 60 teenagers chosen for a course on wildlife] ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He is also sometimes consulted by local hospitals to identify a species of snake prior to treating a [[snakebite]] victim.<ref name="Hiss">Staff. (22 September 2005) [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/09/22/stories/2005092201640100.htm A hiss and tell story]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref>

Shyam has been widely recognized for his work. [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] featured him in its ''Croc Chronicles: Snakes, Karma, Action'' special.<ref name="Hiss"/> He has also been featured on the ''[[Discovery Channel|Discovery]]'' channel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/snake-catcher-corporator-read-how-mysuru-man-dons-different-roles-39207|title=From a snake catcher to a corporator: Read how this Mysuru man dons different roles|last=Srinivasan|first=Sarayu|date=19 February 2016|website=www.thenewsminute.com|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> [[Mysore]] city has named a street for him and has dedicated its first "urban forest" to him and fellow [[environmentalist]] Hyder Ali Khan.<ref name="Outlook"/><ref>Staff correspondent. (6 April 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080410204157/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040650910200.htm Sapgreen activities begin tomorrow]. ''The Hindu''. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref>

Shyam is also known for his personal flamboyance and has been described by ''[[The Hindu]]'' as "easily the most recognisable characters [sic] of Mysore, complete with his sun hat, overflowing beads and multiple rings that adorn his fingers".<ref name="Catch"/>

==Background==
[[File:snakeshyam road.JPG|thumb|200px|left|The road named after Snake Shyam by the Mysore City Corporation]] Shyam was born to M.R.Subbarao and A.Nagalakshmi Mirle in Cheluvaamba Hospital, [[Krishnarajanagara]], [[Mysore State]], now in [[Karnataka]], [[India]].<ref name="Our">[http://www.ourkarnataka.com/Articles/shyam.htm The unknown animal lover Snake Shyam] ourkarnataka.com. Retrieved 2008-08-06.</ref> He demonstrated his interest in snakes at an early age, when a snake invaded a neighbor's home. After convincing those around not to kill the snake, he caught it and released it into the garden. From this incident, he earned his nickname.

==Avocation==
By profession, Shyam was a driver, transporting children to school, but beginning in 1982 he began to be frequently called upon to retrieve snakes that had encroached on people's properties, a job for which he receives no pay.<ref name="Outlook"/><ref name="Our"/> Called multiple times each day, Shyam uses a [[pillowcase]] and a [[badminton]] [[racquet]] without strings to net the snakes, which he then releases into the forest.<ref name="Outlook"/> Though his [[avocation]] to safely remove these snakes has cost him considerable expense, Shyam continues from the desire to see these snakes released rather than killed.<ref name="Hiss"/> Recently, authorities in Mysore have offered to defray some of Shyam's expenses by paying his telephone bills.<ref name="Catch"/>

In 2004, he estimated that he may have caught and released over 40,000 snakes since he began in 1980;<ref name="Outlook"/> as of February 2008, the official record, which he began in 1980(Unofficially he has caught nearly 40,000 Snakes between 1980-1997), was 11,755.<ref name="Catch"/> Though Shyam has only been bitten four times in his rescue work,<ref name="Catch"/> he has developed an allergy to [[antivenin]], which requires that he exercise great care in handling snakes.<ref name="Hiss"/>

His knowledge of snakes—he can identify 28-30 local species of snakes—is founded on personal experience, but supplemented by reading the works of or speaking to professionals such as [[Romulus Whitaker]], [[J.C. Daniel]] and faculty at [[Mysore University]].<ref name="Outlook"/> Shyam's van features paintings depicting snakes and also displays his slogans: "Snakes are not as poisonous as human beings" and "Care for the rare".<ref name="Hiss"/>

Snake Shyam was elected to Mysore City Corporation in the elections held in March 2013, sponsored by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]].<ref name=":0" /> In August 2018, he was expelled from the party for "anti-party activities" and chose to contest as an independent, unsuccessfully.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://starofmysore.com/expelled-from-bjp-for-anti-party-activities/|title=Expelled from BJP for anti-party activities|date=2018-08-30|website=Star of Mysore|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref>

In 2019, he completed another record by catching 32,000 Snakes.

[[File:Snake shyam with people.JPG|thumb|150px|right|Snake Shyam (in red shirt) with the local people after a 'snake encounter']]

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shyam, Snake}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian conservationists]]
[[Category:Indian naturalists]]
[[Category:Scientists from Mysore]]
[[Category:University of Mysore faculty]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian zoologists]]