These photos of India's snake catching tribe will terrify and amaze you

If you suffer from ophiophobia, the fear of snakes, India isn't really the best country for you. With over 200 species of snakes spread across the length and breadth of the country, the chances are you'll come across them at some point.


But while most of us would run terrified from snakes, one Indian tribe on the outskirts of Chennai run toward them. For generations the Irulas, a tribe that has traditionally been marginalised, have specialised in hunting snakes to sell their skins. Now, with the passage of time and the advances of science, they have also become an invaluable weapon in the fight against snake bites.




Without the slightest hint of fear they handle even the most venomous of snakes, flirting with death with the utmost calmness. Their efforts, tracking, capturing and harnessing the venom of snakes has made them a leading supplier of antivenom to hospitals across the country.


Photo Curation by Sehar Qazi
First published: 13 December 2016, 19:29 IST