Bengaluru: To bring more awareness Prevention of snake bites as well as to prevent Snake harassmentFirst of its kind WhatsApp Chatbot It has been launched in Mysore, Karnataka. Incidentally, in February, Karnataka also became the first state in India to declare snake bite a notified disease. Humane Society International (HSI) India In collaboration with The Liana Trust, an organization that engages in conservation efforts by educating people, providing easily accessible information Snake species Found in Mysore.

They also provide life-saving snakebite first aid, tips on snakebite prevention and dispel myths about misinformation about snakes that can lead to acts of cruelty. “Snakebite is a widespread problem that requires comprehensive solutions. As per our survey in Mysuru district, WhatsApp is one of the most used digital apps. Hence, it is an easy platform to reach out to many people with important information that can save human lives and prevent persecution of snakes.

Vinod Krishnan, Human-Wildlife Coexistence Manager at HSI India, said, “Just like it is important to prevent snake bites, it is also important to know the right first aid after a bite.” According to Krishnan, people have an innate fear of snakes due to lack of information about them. This often leads to snakes being killed or relocated to alien habitats where their chances of survival are very low. The chatbot aims to address this information void and empower local communities to take quick and informed action when they come across snakes. The automated chatbot, accessed via a QR code or a ‘Hi’ message on +91 9154190472, broadcasts engaging visual content in English or Kannada, making it easy to understand. The target is to reach at least one lakh users by this year to promote coexistence with snakes, Krishnan said. India witnesses 1 million snakebite incidents every year, leading to about 58,000 snakebite-related deaths and nearly 2 lakh cases of morbidity every year. Karnataka alone recorded 6,500 snakebite incidents last year. by 2023, said a press release issued by HSI India. It is also a neglected tropical disease classified by the World Health OrganizationAccording to the statement, this is having a devastating impact on the socio-economic condition of families and the mental health of those affected.

Gerry Martin, founder of The Liana Trust, said the chatbot would also assist policymakers. “The chatbot is a great way to have a continuous dialogue with the community, assess the information they use most and in the future add other levels of information such as information on the nearest hospital, ambulance services etc.”

Incidentally, India has National Action Plan for the prevention of snake bite poisoning Bites from venomous snakes are a potentially fatal disease, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A worldwide summit released on March 12 directed states to draw up plans to halve deaths and disabilities from snakebites by 2030.