The Checkered Keelback: A Friend of Nature, Not a Foe — Why Awareness, Not Annihilation, Is the Need of the Hour
Date: April 4, 2025
Author: Nazrul Islam
Co-authored by: Writing Team at PoriPurno.com
Reports of baby snakes being beaten or burnt to death—sometimes as many as 22 or 26 in one incident—are surfacing daily from across the country. Despite clear Islamic injunctions against killing any living being with fire, such cruel acts continue, often driven by fear and misinformation.
Most of these snakes are misidentified as venomous, whereas in reality, they are harmless and non-venomous Checkered Keelbacks (Fowlea piscator), commonly known in Bengali as Joldhora.
Misjudged by Color, Misunderstood by Nature
Many people assume these snakes are dangerous simply because of their dark coloration. However, this is a natural phenomenon known as morphological polymorphism, where coloration and physical features vary due to environmental factors—a form of phenotypic plasticity. Additionally, baby snakes often appear darker for the first few days after hatching.
It is important to note that April–May marks the hatching season for Checkered Keelbacks. For first-time mothers, this period can extend even longer. As a result, large numbers of hatchlings are often found in fields and near water bodies during this time.
The Checkered Keelback: The Silent Guardian of the Ecosystem
- Non-venomous and Docile
The Checkered Keelback poses no threat to humans. It exhibits defensive behavior only when provoked, such as flattening its neck or wriggling to escape. Unless cornered or harmed, it does not retaliate.
- Natural Disease Controller
By consuming sick or diseased fish and amphibians from ponds and wetlands, this snake helps prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases such as bacterial and parasitic infections.
- Maintains Ecological Balance
As both predator and prey, it plays a vital role in the food chain—controlling populations of small animals while serving as food for birds and larger snakes.
- Beneficial for Agriculture
Dwelling near rice fields and canals, it preys on frogs, dragonflies, and snails—natural pests that damage crops—thereby acting as an organic pest controller.
- Indicator of Environmental Health
The presence of Checkered Keelbacks indicates that a waterbody is still alive and sustainable. It is considered a bioindicator species, vital for assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems.
A Natural Cleaner of Aquatic Environments
Much like vultures purify the land by consuming carrion, and stray dogs clean cities and villages by eating waste and dead animals, the Checkered Keelback acts as a natural scavenger in wetlands. By feeding on weak and diseased aquatic animals, it contributes significantly to the sanitation of its habitat.
Without such contributions, our water ecosystems would be vulnerable to disease outbreaks and increased pollution.
The Real Threat: Ignorance and Fear
The most painful aspect of this ongoing extermination is not just the loss of life but the underlying causes—ignorance, irrational fear, and superstition. These are far more dangerous than the creature itself.
The Call to Action: Awareness Over Annihilation
It is time we educate ourselves and others. A conscious mind can protect nature and ensure a sustainable future for the generations to come. The Checkered Keelback is not an enemy—it is an unsung hero of our environment.
Let us replace fear with understanding, and violence with empathy.
WSRTBD — Wildlife and Snake Rescue Team Bangladesh: Saving Lives, Sustaining Nature
Written by:
Nazrul Islam
Secretary & Wildlife and Snake Rescuer
Wildlife and Snake Rescue Team in Bangladesh (WSRTBD)
With contributions from the Writing Team at PoriPurno.com
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