Friends of Snakes Society

Description

Friends of Snakes Society, known as FOS, is a non-governmental organization based in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, dedicated to the conservation of snakes and reptiles.

Founded in 1995, it is recognised by the Telangana Forest Department as the lead agency for snake and reptile conservation and is a member of the Telangana State Board for Wildlife. It runs a 24-hour rescue helpline that receives hundreds of calls a day, with trained volunteers relocating snakes from homes and offices to safe habitats. In 2025 it rescued over 15,000 snakes across Telangana.

Beyond rescue, FOS conducts about 300 public awareness programmes each year, reaching more than 500,000 people in schools, colleges and community centres, and works to dispel myths about snakes and prevent snakebite deaths. It also assists the Forest Department with anti-poaching efforts and wildlife census work, and carries out research on snake ecology, distribution and taxonomy.

The organisation relies on more than 150 trained volunteers who take part in rescues, awareness campaigns and research surveys. It is the only organization authorized by the Telangana Forest Department to carry out snake rescues in the state.