These women were found begging
in Pushkar, with the assistance of a
couple of pathetic cobras. Image by
John McGrath.
dangerous for the pleasure of
patrons.
In fact, cobras make the perfect
subjects for snake charmers for a
number of reasons. Firstly it is
the natural reaction of all ‘true’
cobras (those members of the
genus Naja, including the Indian
Cobra, Naja naja), together with a
number of other associated
species, to rear up to a height of
around a third of their body length
and spread their hoods when
threatened. So a cobra kept in a
darkened pot or basket is likely to
respond in this fashion as soon
as the lid is removed. It is com-
monplace for elapids to flatten
their necks when threatened;
cobras ‘hoods’ are created by
extending special elongated ribs.
And while snakes are incapable
of hearing music in the conven-
tional sense (they lack external
ears, but are extremely sensitive
to vibrations), cobras will sway
from side to side, following the
moving pungi as if mesmerised.
Furthermore, although cobras are
dangerously venomous, they are
typically reluctant to strike, and
often if they eventually do so, it is
with a closed mouth. Supposedly,
some snake charmers train new
snakes by inducing them to strike
at a pungi, or similar hard object,
and in time the snakes learn that
this only causes pain, and desist.
While there is a lack of
documented evidence for this
strategy, it certainly would seem
feasible.
Finally, if a rearing cobra does
attempt to strike, an experienced
snake charmer should find it
relatively easy to avoid getting
bitten. The cobra is at a consider-
able disadvantage, since it can
only strike downwards in a limited
radius defined by the height at
which it is standing, which makes
it comparatively slow and easy to
anticipate. This is in complete
contrast to many other elapids
and vipers, which will withdraw
their necks into ‘S-bends’ like
coiled springs and strike out-
wards with far greater speed and
much less predictability.
A dying ‘art’.
At one time ubiquitous in Indian
markets and festivals, and used
to promote tourism overseas,
today snake charmers are
seldom seen, and these once
iconic street performers are
viewed as little more than
beggars. It has become increas-
ingly difficult – and dangerous –
for snake charmers to scrounge a
living and it is not unlikely that
they will disappear completely in
the not-too-distant future.
This is due to a combination of
factors: in 1972 the Indian
government introduced its
Wildlife Protection Act that
stipulates a seven-year jail
sentence for any person who