Meet a snake charmer and learn why his traditional way of earning a living has changed, now that catching wild snakes is against the law.
For generations, some families earned their living by catching snakes and performing with them in villages and towns, playing a pungi (a wind instrument) to appear to "charm" the snake.
Can a snake actually hear the music played by a snake charmer?
No — snakes don't have external ears and can't hear airborne music. They react to the movement of the pungi and the charmer's hand, not the sound
Snake charming is now illegal in India under the Wildlife Protection Act, since catching and keeping wild snakes harms both the snakes and the balance of nature.
Why is it important to protect snakes in the wild, even though some people fear them?
Snakes help control the population of rats and other pests, keeping farms and villages healthier — removing them from the wild upsets this natural balance
1. What instrument does a snake charmer traditionally play?
2. Do snakes dance because they enjoy the music?
3. Under which law is catching wild snakes illegal in India?
4. Name one way snakes are helpful to farmers.
5. Why might a snake-charmer family need to find a new way to earn a living today?