Nearly 27 years after he caught the first one somewhere in the vicinity of Vontikoppal, “Snake” Shyam snapped his 20,000th snake in Vijayanagar in Mysore on Thursday.
Born as M.S. Balasubramania to two government school teachers M.R. Subba Rao and A.M. Nagalakshmi, Shyam, a driver by profession, catches and releases the reptiles, and maintains a register to be verified by the authorities.
How to reach Shyam: 094-480-69399
Photograph: Karnataka Photo News
churumuri 
Mysoreans are really happy and proud of this gentleman. He has saved the lives of 20,000 snakes means indirectly he has tried to maintain the balance of nature. He might have been honoured by many organizations but they pale into insiginificance when the helpless snakes blesses him.
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I have seen this guy on TV9. That show was simply great and I only could wish him all the best to save many more lives…
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enappa get-up ivndu!!
2 sunglasses.. tat too on the hat!
numerous rings…. god knows how many chains and bangles he is wearing..
looks crazy…. ya crazier than upendra :)
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It is heartening to see someone put close to 3 decades of effort to help a fellow earthling. I don’t care what he dons. He style maybe loud but his actions are louder and certainly praiseworthy.
Thank you sir..
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Its interesting how people in all walks of life have their own records and keep good memory of them. 20000 is not a small number. Great work!
Is there any record he is after ? Is it just his drive for his work ? Or in the famous Sacin Tendulkar style did he say I don’t play for records.
Again a great personal achievement.
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What is his telephone/mobile number please?
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i am a fan of this gentle man.May his tribe increase.
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May God bless this reptile lover. Encountering thousands of snakes without any mishap is all the more great.
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soooparr guru. olle karya madtidya
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Great work!
Some people still behave like neanderthals when they see a snake. Very recently, a hapless common green snake was burnt to death near my house. Ones requests not to do so invites tongue-in-cheek one liners like ‘why? are you planning to take it home and keep it as a pet?’ amidst loud jeers. Wonder when better sense will prevail.
Saumya
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The man is no crank, his recording of the number is to inform the officialdom and also if it makes to any book of records, he wouldn’t complain. :)
He also collects books on herpetology, if you want to show your gratitude, and can gift a rare tome on snakes, please do it.
Snake Shyam’s presentations to kids are very informative, especially when kids grill him all sorts of questions about snakes(once he explained to a hall of primary school students the reproductive organs and system of snakes because a naughty student asked a question about it, and even the high school science teachers who used to *ignore* teaching the same about human beings’ had to watch it toungue-tied with risen eyebrows. :D )
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Many congratulations to Shyam..you truly have done yeoman service to our environment and to the people..we are proud of you…
Like Janasamanya..i want to know his contact numbers pls…
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Congrats “Snake Dundee” Great Job. This is no small feat.
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I guess one could call this man great only when he fights encroachment and destruction of natural habitat.
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He may be contacted at Mob: 94480-69399.
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Maybe our kannada channels must be innovative enough to build a program around him similar to what Animal planet channel did for Steve Irwin.
Follow him everytime he goes to catch a snake..and telecast in episodes … Real TV. ..Real Heros… Real education..
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Snaka Shamanna!
Swalpa ninna ‘get up’ change madkolappa!
Good work and stay safe from snake bites.
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Snake Syam’s phone number: 9448069399. This was with me from 2006. dont know if it has changed. Update please…
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A documentary on Snake shyam was beamed on National Geographic Channel long time back ( about 4 years back). I was very happy to see a fellow mysorean first time on NGC.It was a 1 hr programme and the host was with him for one busy day full.And the programme has been repeated umpteen number of times. Sad that no regional channels have given him his due .He will come in news snippets etc…but no complete programme dedicated to him. I have had the opportunity of watching him catching live snakes and giving lectures on snakes in my college days. Whatever may be his getup he is a calm person and is ready for service any time of the day.
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I have met him and he is doing a magnificent job of saving many lives I also know that he ahs to struggle to meet the expenses of keeping these magnificent snakes in his house before leaving them in the forest. When schools call him he gets a pittance of Rs 300-500 while his transportion and bringing helpers would eat into it. It is a pity that govt of Karnataka has not cared to help him out of his financial commitment he incurs by paying some fixed amount monthly while he is doing a good service to the society. He is too proud to approach the govt and he says he is doing it as loving act though he finds it a financial burden.Hopefully somebody in the govt notices this bloG
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HRBS Saar!
Exactly! Why not we have some MP from Mysore city help Shyam out through his MP discretionary fund for the time being? LAter, Yeddi should apply his mind and start a Snake Park in and around Mysore with Snake Shyam as the director?!!
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Jeevatatna & Ananth – thank you for the contact number..
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hellow sir,
i wondered seeing ur snake catching programme in tv9 kannada ur just great and after catching snake without harming , u will leave to forest wonderful, in either way ur saving peoples as well as snake .
good al the best sir, for future.
kavitha
bangalore
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