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'''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>

Latest revision as of 22:10, 20 December 2021

M. S. Balasubramania
Snakeshyam.JPG
Snake Shyam
Born1967 (age 57–58)
Cheluvaamba Hospital, Krishnarajanagara, Mysore State, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesSnake Bite
OccupationSnake conservationist, Auto rickshaw Driver, former Counselor - Mysore City Corporation (MCC)
Known forSnake enthusiasm
Websitesnakeshyammysore.com

M. S. Balasubramania (alt spelling Balasubramanya;[1] born 1967),[2] popularly known as Snake Shyam, is a snake enthusiast, wildlife conservationist and lecturer in Mysore, India.[3] He was elected to the Mysore City Corporation in 2013, a role he served until 2018.[1][4]

Though not a trained herpetologist,[5] Shyam is known throughout the Mysore region as a "naturalist on wheels".[6] He rescues and rehabilitates snakes and educates the public about them.[7] He is also sometimes consulted by local hospitals to identify a species of snake prior to treating a snakebite victim.[8]

Shyam has been widely recognized for his work. National Geographic featured him in its Croc Chronicles: Snakes, Karma, Action special.[8] He has also been featured on the Discovery channel.[9] Mysore city has named a street for him and has dedicated its first "urban forest" to him and fellow environmentalist Hyder Ali Khan.[5][10]

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".[3]

Background[edit]

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.[11] 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[edit]

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.[5][11] 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.[5] 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.[8] Recently, authorities in Mysore have offered to defray some of Shyam's expenses by paying his telephone bills.[3]

In 2004, he estimated that he may have caught and released over 40,000 snakes since he began in 1980;[5] 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.[3] Though Shyam has only been bitten four times in his rescue work,[3] he has developed an allergy to antivenin, which requires that he exercise great care in handling snakes.[8]

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.[5] 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".[8]

Snake Shyam was elected to Mysore City Corporation in the elections held in March 2013, sponsored by the BJP.[1] In August 2018, he was expelled from the party for "anti-party activities" and chose to contest as an independent, unsuccessfully.[4][12]

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

Snake Shyam (in red shirt) with the local people after a 'snake encounter'

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Milton, Laurence (11 March 2013). "Snake enthusiast wins MCC election". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  2. ↑ "Snake man". Frontline. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Special correspondent. (14 February 2008) A prize catch for the ‘naturalist on wheels’ The Hindu. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Electorate give hung verdict in Mysuru City Corporation polls". Mysuru Today. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Srinivasaraju, Sugata. (29 November 2004) The charm of a gutless racquet Archived 22 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine Outlook Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  6. ↑ Special correspondent. (4 July 2005) Snake falls victim to superstitious belief The Hindu. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  7. ↑ Staff correspondent. (26 June 2007) 60 teenagers chosen for a course on wildlife The Hindu. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Staff (22 September 2005). "A hiss and tell story". The Hindu
  9. ↑ Srinivasan, Sarayu (19 February 2016). "From a snake catcher to a corporator: Read how this Mysuru man dons different roles". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  10. ↑ Staff correspondent. (6 April 2008) Sapgreen activities begin tomorrow. The Hindu. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 The unknown animal lover Snake Shyam ourkarnataka.com. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  12. ↑ "Expelled from BJP for anti-party activities". Star of Mysore. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
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