How to Use the Snake Rescue App now operational in Ahmedabad district; Explainer

Gandhinagar: During his visit to the Wildlife Care Center in Bodakdev, Ahmedabad , Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Pateltoday launched the ‘Snake Rescue App’.

The specialty of this app is that if you see a snake anywhere, you can inform the forest department through this app. Currently, this app has been made operational in Ahmedabad district as part of the pilot project. This app will also be made operational in other districts of the state in phases.

Through this app, any citizen will be able to report a snake or send a ‘Hi’ message to the WhatsApp number 8320002000 and 1926 helpline number announced by the Forest Department and will get a link. After that, the snake rescue team will reach the place and rescue the snake and the snake will be released in a suitable natural environment.

How will the ‘Snake Rescue’ app work?

Step 1 – Any citizen can use two methods for snake rescue. First method – ‘Hi’ message on WhatsApp number 8320002000 or second method – SMS or missed call on 8320002000. Then in the menu received in the reply, the citizen will have to select the option for snake rescue. Thus, the citizen will get a link, clicking on this link will open a page, where the process of snake rescue will start.

Step 2 – After that, the citizen applying for snake rescue will get a message. ‘A snake rescue request has been raised for (your mobile number). Kindly send the live location to complete the process. If no data is entered in the next 10 minutes the request will automatically be cancelled.’

Step 3 – After sharing the live location, the rescuers will get a notification about the place where the snake was seen. Thus, all the registered snake rescuers within a 5-kilometer area will get a pop-up message on their mobile. The rescuer who accepts the request first will be assigned the task. Along with this, once the task is assigned, no one else will be able to accept it.

If there is no rescuer within a five km radius or no one accepts the request, the message will be sent to all the rescuers within a 10 km radius. If the rescuer in this area is also not available or none accepts, the citizen will be guided to contact the concerned RFO, who will take further action.

Step 4 – Snake rescue operation will be initiated. The designated snake rescuer will reach the spot and catch the snake. Basic details of the snake (species, condition etc.) will be entered in the ‘Snake Rescue App’.

Step 5 – Now the caught snake will have to be handed over to a regular staff member. This handover will be done through an OTP-based transaction.

It is worth mentioning here that this facility is currently operational in Ahmedabad district. After the success of the pilot phase, it will be made operational in the entire state. Most importantly, citizens do not need to download any application in this. All rescuers will have to register with the forest department and install the ‘Snake Rescue App’.