Vava Suresh

Suresh, popularly known as Vava Suresh (born 1974), is an Indian wildlife conservationist and a snake expert. He is known for his missions for saving snakes straying into human inhabited areas in Kerala, India. He has captured 200(as of November 2020) King cobras, he is believed to have captured and rescued more than 50,000 straying snakes.[2]

Vava Suresh
Vava Suresh in Thiruvananthapuram in 2016
Born1974[1]
Trivandrum, Kerala, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesVasur, Snake Master
OccupationWildlife conservationist, social worker
Known forSnake capturing and wildlife conservation
Parent(s)Bahuleyan, L.Krishnamma
WebsiteYoutube

He is widely known for his conservation activities like the rescue and release of endangered species of snakes, preservation of collected eggs until hatching periods, and creating awareness among people about snakes and their behavior.[3][4] He releases his reptile collections into natural habitats at regular intervals of time.[5] His efforts to capture venomous snakes from human populated areas and to educate the people about snakes and their behavior is widely acknowledged.[6]

He is famous for his snake capturing program called 'Snake master' in Kaumudy channel. In the course of his work, he has survived hundreds of bites from venomous snakes, some of which admitted him to the hospital, where he was placed on a ventilator or treated in the ICU.

Rejection of government job offer
Vava Suresh at Pandalam in 2011

In recognition of his services to the society, Forest Department and his efforts in conserving various vulnerable species of snakes endemic to the state, Suresh was offered a temporary government job[7] in 2012 by minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar, at the snake park that would be set up at the Kottur forest area near Kattakada in Thiruvananthapuram for daily wages. But Suresh declined it, saying that he would be unable to help the society the way he wants to if he was employed.[8]

Accidents

During his long career of conservation activities, he has encountered numerous accidents. According to an interview by the news channel ABP Maza, conducted on 5 June 2012, Suresh admitted to being kept on a ventilator twice and in ICU four times. In all, he has survived more than 300 venomous snake bites.[8] He was hospitalised in August 2013 for a lethal bite. On 20 June 2015 he was hospitalized for a cobra bite and recently, on 13 February 2020, he had a serious Russell's viper bite.

Recognitions

Suresh was awarded the 'Vocational Service Award 2011' instituted by the Rotary Club's Thiruvananthapurm division.[9][10] He was selected for his service to the society for many years. On November 2013 during his visit to Kerala, Britain's Prince Charles[11] expressed his desire to meet Vava Suresh and a rendezvous was arranged in Vazhachal.

References
  1. "Vava Suresh- 'snake man' of Kerala". Indian Express. 19 April 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  2. "Ace Kerala snake handler in ICU after viper bites him during rescue operation". hindustantimes.com. 14 February 2020.
  3. "King Cobra sightings bring up snake bite treatment issues". The Hindu. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  4. "Seriously hurt cobra saved through surgery". Manorama Online. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  5. "Vava Suresh continues his mission to rescue snakes despite the occasional bites". The Hindu. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  6. "Where snakes feel at home". The Hindu. 5 July 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  7. TNN (21 March 2012). "Govt offers job to Vava Suresh". The Times Of India. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  8. "Snake-catcher Vava Suresh denies job by Kerala forest minister". India Today. 13 April 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  9. "Award for snake catcher". thehindu.com. 23 April 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  10. "Rotary award for Vava Suresh". The New Indian Express. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  11. KochiNovember 12, J. Binduraj; November 12, 2013UPDATED; Ist, 2013 11:58. "Prince Charles to meet master snake catcher Vava Suresh in Thrissur today". India Today.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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