Conservation Evidence (2010) 7, 9-15 www.ConservationEvidence.com 9 An education programme and establishment of a citizen scientist network to reduce killing of non-venomous snakes in Malappuram district, Kerala, India Peroth Balakrishnan 1, 2 1 Wildlife Research and Conservation Trust, c/o Anupallavi, Chungathara, Nilambur - 679 334, India 2 Division of Conservation Ecology, Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatty, Coimbatore - 641 108, India Corresponding author e-mail: baluperoth@gmail.com SUMMARY A public education and citizen science programme was developed to improve data collection on incidences of deliberate killing of snakes and to reduce unfounded killing of snakes in human dominated landscapes of Kerala, southwest India. During 2003-2009, citizen scientists recorded 278 direct human kills and more than 200 kills of snakes by vehicular collision, agricultural practices and attack by pets. Participants managed to prevent killing of 276 non-venomous snakes (of 14 taxa). The non-venomous Travancore wolf snake Lycodon travancoricus (a batesian mimic of the deadly venomous Indian krait Bungarus caeruleus) was the species that benefited most of the programme. In addition, the conservation education programme (highlighting ecosystem services of reptiles) resulted in positive attitudinal changes among local people towards the conservation of snakes and general biodiversity of the region. BACKGROUND Direct human killing has been identified as an important cause of population decline in snakes (Dodd 1987). The majority of, mostly unfounded, kills of snakes occur in rural tropical areas, where human deaths resulting from snake bites may be common (Gutiérrez et al. 2006, Kasturiratne et al. 2008). In global terms, India is the country with the highest number of human deaths due to snakebite, with nearly 11,000 estimated deaths annually (Kasturiratne et al. 2008). In India, the majority of snake-bite deaths are caused by spectacled cobra Naja naja, Indian krait Bungarus caeruleus, Russell's viper Daboia russelii and saw-scaled viper Echis carinatus, which are considered the ‘big four’ venomous snakes in the country (Das 2002). The fear and resentment aroused due to snake-bites results in malicious killing of many non-venomous snakes on sight. However, relatively little attention has been devoted to understand the patterns of snake killing and the impact of such mortality on snake populations (Bonnet et al. 1999). Within India (where over 275 species of snakes occur) large numbers of snakes inhabit densely populated rural lowland areas where most species are killed by people on sight. Only a few well-known harmless species, such as Indian rat snake Ptyas mucosa, Brahminy blind snake Ramphotyphlops braminus and checkered keelback water snake Xenochrophis piscator may escape persecution due to correct identification as non-venomous species by the general public.