Parassinikkadavu Snake Park Photos: Are you afraid of snakes? If yes, then Kannur district of Kerala is ready to change your thinking. Here is a place where fear turns into thrill. We are talking about the famous ‘Parasinikkadavu Snake Park’. This park is not just a zoo. This is a different world of snakes. Located in Anthoor municipality, about 16 kilometers from Kannur city, this park is no less than a wonder for the tourists. Here you will get to see the world’s most poisonous and dangerous snakes. From king cobra to giant python, everything is present here. The purpose of this park is not only to show snakes but also to save them. This park breaks superstitions and brings you closer to these reptiles. If you are going to Kerala, then definitely include this exciting place in your list.
From King Cobra to Viper: A confluence of fear and beauty
- Here, enclosures like natural habitat have been built so that the snakes feel at home. There is a wonderful collection of snakes in the park.
- The biggest attraction for tourists here is the ‘King Cobra’. This is the largest poisonous snake in the world.
- Apart from this, here you will get to see ‘spectacled cobra’ (snake), Russell’s viper, krait and many types of pit vipers.
- Not only poisonous, there are also a large number of non-poisonous snakes here. These include ‘Indian Rock Python’ i.e. giant python and ‘Rat Snake’.
From the tiny hump-nosed pit viper to the giant python, there are 31 species of snakes present here. This park makes people of all ages aware of wildlife.
Which snakes can be seen in Parasinikkadavu Snake Park?
- Indian King Cobra
Indian King Cobra is the longest poisonous snake in the world. It is found in the dense forests and grasslands of the Western Ghats. Its biggest feature is its wide hood which makes it very scary and royal. It is so powerful that it makes other snakes its prey, even if they are poisonous. Due to its amazing agility and dangerous poison, it has a different status in the forest. People look at it with both respect and fear. Its sleek body and style of attack make it a wonderful but scary specimen of nature.
- Russell’s Viper
Russell’s Viper is a very poisonous and aggressive snake. There are chain-like patterns and oval marks on its body which give it identity. It looks very beautiful but its poison is deadly. This snake is considered responsible for most of the incidents of snake bites in India. It is also often found around residential areas and farms. Its anger is very strong and it attacks in the blink of an eye. The markings on its body help it hide in dry leaves and grass. It is wise to stay away from it because its attack never goes waste.
- Common Rat Snake
Common Rat Snake i.e. Dhaman is a non-venomous snake. It is commonly found in forests as well as in cities and fields. It is very agile and is known for its fast speed. Its main food is rats, birds and eggs. Farmers consider it their friend because it eats rats that destroy their crops. Its slim body and calm nature make it special. Often people consider it poisonous due to its appearance and get scared. But in reality it does not harm humans and is necessary for the balance of the environment.
- Common Krait
The common krait is a highly venomous predator that comes out in the dark of night. The white stripes on its body give it a distinct identity on black skin. It looks calm but its venom can be more deadly than that of the King Cobra. Its poison directly affects the nervous system, which is called neurotoxic. Its bite can paralyze a person and stop breathing. It often comes out in search of prey at night and can target sleeping people. It is one of the most dangerous ‘Big Four’ snakes of India.
- Hump Nosed Pit Viper
The hump-nosed pit viper is known for its unique face and prominent nose. There are special ‘heat sensing pits’ between its eyes and nose. This natural technique helps it to feel the heat of its prey even in darkness. It is a poisonous snake whose poison is hemotoxic. This means that its poison badly damages the blood and body tissues. It is a part of the viper family and is expert in attacking secretly in the forest. Its small size makes it even more dangerous because it is not easily visible in dry leaves.
- Indian Rock Python
Indian Rock Python is famous for its strength and huge size. It does not contain poison but it kills its prey by strangulating it. It coils itself around the prey and suffocates it. These snakes present in the park look very heavy and scary. It has the ability to swallow everything from small animals to big prey. Its muscles have amazing strength. Even though it is not poisonous, going near it can be dangerous. Nature has made it an excellent hunter who rules the forest even without poison.
- Indian Spectacled Cobra
The Indian Spectacled Cobra is the most famous and iconic snake of India. It got this name because of the spectacle-like mark on its hood. It is extremely poisonous and when it feels threatened, it spreads its hood and stands up. This snake has great importance in Indian culture and mythology. People also worship him as a snake god. It often appears around farms and villages to hunt rats. Its poison attacks the nervous system. Its agility and angry nature make it one of the most dangerous creatures in the world.
- Common Wolf Snake
The Common Wolf Snake is a non-venomous snake that is often found in the walls of houses. It is found in many parts of India and South Asia. Its main food is small reptiles, frogs and eggs. It attacks very fast to catch its prey. Its thin body and black-and-white stripes make it look like a poisonous krait. For this reason people often consider it dangerous and kill it. Actually it is a beneficial snake which keeps the insect population under control. It is very shy by nature and is more active at night.
- Montane Trinket Snake
The montane trinket snake is the pride of the mountain forests of the Western Ghats. This is a non-poisonous and very beautiful snake. The patterns made on its body look like some jewelry or trinket, hence it got this name. It likes to remain very secretive by nature and is not easily visible. It uses its agility to hunt rats, birds and lizards. It is adept at hiding itself in the forest environment. For wildlife lovers, seeing this snake is no less than a treasure. Its hunting techniques and lifestyle make it completely different from other snakes.
- Green Vine Snake
Green vine snake or green vine snake is a wonderful example of nature’s craftsmanship. It looks exactly like a green branch of a tree or a vine. It is a non-poisonous snake which is found in the forests of South Asia. Its body is very long and thin which makes it disappear among the leaves. It hunts birds and lizards using its excellent camouflage technique. Its eyes are large and sharp which help it to focus on prey. It often hangs on trees and pounces on its prey as soon as it comes near.
- Checkered Keelback
The checkered keelback is a water snake that lives in rivers, ponds and marshy areas. It is not poisonous but it has expertise in swimming in water. There are marks like a chessboard on its body. Its main food is fishes and frogs. It can swim very fast underwater and catch its prey. This snake is very common in South and South-East Asia. Often people call it a water snake. It can live both on land and in water, hence it is called semi-aquatic.
- Common Sand Boa
Common Sand Boa i.e. two-headed snake is the king of dry and sandy areas. It is not poisonous and lives in a burrow underground. Its body is thick and cylindrical which helps it to hide in the soil. Its tail also looks round like its head, that is why people call it two-faced. It hunts small mammals and birds. It waits for its prey by hiding inside the sand and catches it as soon as it gets the chance. The color of its skin makes it completely disappear in the desert environment.
- Red Sand Boa
Red Sand Boa is also a wonderful snake found in dry and barren areas. The color of its skin is red-brown which helps it to hide in the rocky ground. It is not poisonous but is an excellent hunter. It is expert in digging the ground and lives in burrows. It helps farmers by hunting rats and small animals. Its body is smooth and patterned. Smugglers are often after this snake because many superstitions are spread about it. But it has been kept safe in the park. This is a very important creature for the balance of nature.
Live show with snakes: do you dare?
The most special thing about this park is the ‘live show’ held here. People often have many misconceptions about snakes. Here trained employees work to remove these fears and superstitions. In the live show, trainers are seen ‘playing’ and interacting with snakes like cobras and vipers.
Seeing this scene, the audience’s breath stops. But its purpose is not to scare. Its purpose is to show that snakes are not always aggressive. This show tells us that we can co-exist with these creatures too. This park was established with a noble intention for the conservation and protection of snakes.
History of Snake Park: The journey started with the treatment of poison
The history of this park is very interesting. It was established on 8 January 1982 by former Minister of State M.V. It was done by Raghavan, who is fondly called ‘MVR’. But its roots are even older.
This park was a part of the ‘Pappinissery Venom Treatment Centre’ started in 1964. This center was built for the treatment of snake bites. Here patients are treated with a combination of Ayurveda, allopathy and traditional methods. Understanding the incidence of snake bites and the need for treatment, the foundation of this park was later laid for research.
Its founders were inspired by the famous conservationist and herpetologist Mr. Romulus Whittaker. It was Whittaker who helped in establishing the Snake Park and Crocodile Park in Chennai. The motto of the park is- ‘Love Snakes not kill them’.
If you are planning to go here, then note some things. it The park is open from 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM,
Road route: The distance of the park from Kannur Airport is about 19 kilometers. It takes about 30 minutes to go by taxi or car. You can take a taxi directly from the airport. Auto-rickshaws are also easily available in Kannur city.
Bus and Train: Buses run from Kannur city to Parasinikkadavu. Apart from this, there is also a railway station here. The park is just 2 kilometers away from Parasinikkadavu Railway Station. You can reach the park from there on foot or by taking an auto.
This park is just 2 kilometers away from National Highway 17, which falls on the way from Kannur to Taliparamba. The famous Parasinikkadavu temple and Vismaya amusement park are also nearby, making it a perfect destination for tourists.
