SARPA is a state-level scheme and mobile application initiative, the acronym for Snake Awareness, Rescue and Protection App. It was launched in Kerala in August 2020 by the Department of Forests and Wildlife Protection to address the persistent challenge of human-snake conflict. The program was created following the implementation of the "Guidelines for rescue and release of snakes from human-dominated areas by certified snake handlers".
The core problem SARPA was designed to solve was the high number of snakebite deaths, which averaged around 110 per year in Kerala between 2017 and 2019. The initiative focuses on reptile conservation while simultaneously ensuring human safety by professionalizing snake rescue. The mechanism works through a mobile application that facilitates the real-time coordination of snake rescue efforts, connecting citizens with certified snake handlers. To become a registered rescuer, an individual must undergo training and certification by the Forest Department. Since its launch, the program has safely removed over 37,493 snakes from human premises and released them back into the wild.
SARPA is closely connected to the state's public health and wildlife conservation efforts. All of India's more than 340 snake species are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The Kerala government has also made snakebite a notifiable disease and roped in the state health department to ensure taluk-level hospitals are equipped with antivenom and proper treatment protocols. The program has recently been undergoing changes, with an upgraded version being rolled out to integrate a network of medical professionals and snake experts into the platform for real-time guidance to first responders. Related initiatives include SARPA Padam and the upcoming SARPA Suraksha programs, which focus on risk assessment and awareness campaigns.