In March last year, volunteers of Friends of Snakes Society rescued a green iguana perched on a mango tree in Dilsukhnagar of Hyderabad. A few days ago, green-keeled lizards and girdled lizards were found in the baggage of two passengers from Bangkok at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. None of them are native species of India.
Experts warn that in the absence of natural predators, the exotic species might thrive and compete with local fauna for resources. Besides, the growing fascination with exotic pets, coupled with neglect of native species, could further threaten indigenous populations. They also note that non-native plants, fish and other organisms are already altering local ecosystems.
Exotic snakes may raise snakebite burden
“Exotic species, when released into the wild, have the potential to disrupt delicate ecological balances by outcompeting or preying on native species. This is particularly problematic as many exotic animals lack natural predators in the Indian ecosystem, allowing them to thrive and multiply unchecked. There have been several documented instances where exotic species, including snakes and reptiles, have escaped from private enclosures or were deliberately released into the wild,” said Avinash Visvanathan, general secretary of FoSS.
