Every year the number of people in India who die from a snakebite ranges from 81,000 to 1,38,000. And the only thing that can impede death is a potent antivenom. Did you know that a major portion of India’s anti-venom stock traces back to a tribe in Tamil Nadu? The Irula tribe is one of India’s oldest indigenous communities that is exceptionally adept at handling snakes.

Their expertise in reptiles and venom collection acumen cast them into the spotlight.

However, this also made them victim to certain scams. The people of the Irula tribe were deceived into procuring snake skins — lucrative for the fashion industry — that were sold illegally. The Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972) came........

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