- A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India details 172 red sand boa (Eryx johnii) seizures from 2016 to 2021.
- It is illegally distributed under the guise of its use in black magic rituals.
Concerning the Red Sand Boa
- The Red Sand Boa is a rare non-poisonous snake having medicinal, cosmetic, and even black magic properties, making it highly valued in the global market.
- It is known as the “Two-headed Snake” by the general people due to its lengthy tail with a rounded tip that resembles two heads.
Conservation Status
- Trading and possessing the red sand boa are illegal under the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act.
- The species is included in Schedule IV of the World Protection Act.
- Furthermore, the red sand boa is included in CITES Appendix II.
- It is classified as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN, with a declining population trend.
Social media is a major trade moving element.
- The study emphasises the critical importance of social media platforms, particularly YouTube, as conduits for illegal trafficking.
- YouTube videos serve as interfaces for buyers and sellers, with transactions occasionally facilitated via WhatsApp.
- In 2021, around 200 YouTube videos advertising sand boas for sale were discovered.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/172-incidents-of-seizures-of-red-sand-boa-recorded-from-2016-to-2021-wcs-india-report/article67249299.ece