The Snake Festival is a rite dedicated to St. Dominic, whose statue for the occasion is completely enveloped by snakes, captured in the local woods and shown and made to touch to the pilgrims. But what consequences does this tradition have on animals and biodiversity? We asked a LAV expert
Every year in Cocullo (Abruzzo) on May XNUMXst the feast of the serpari is celebrated, in honor of St. Dominic the abbot, patron saint of the town. A tradition deeply felt by the inhabitants and which attracts thousands of visitors, also attracted by the presence of many snakes, captured in the local woods and an integral part of the festival.
An ancient tradition which, combining Christian religion and pagan rites, is handed down from generation to generation and which has also been nominated to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
All beautiful except that - unfortunately - the ritual also involves wild animals. But let's explain better what it is and what snakes have to do with the devotion to St. Dominic.
San Domenico he is considered the saint who protects from toothache, from dogs suffering from rabies but also from the bite of snakes and precisely to symbolize this last link, the rite provides that the statue - which passes in procession through the town during the festival - is covered with snakes.
In reality, even before the start of the procession, the snakes show pilgrims all the snakes they have captured and allow them to touch them, a way to exorcise the fear of these animals considered dangerous but which also become the symbol of every other fear and uncertainty of the life.
The snakes
Beyond the religious and / or traditional and folkloristic value of this rite, which we do not want to discuss in any way, we are interested in emphasizing the presence of wild animals, specially captured to take part in this tradition.
The snakes captured for the snake festival belong to 4 species - obviously not poisonous - typical of the area:
- rat snake
- grass snake from the collar
- cervone
- saettone
Already at the end of March, so well before the actual party will take place, the snakes are caught in the woods of the area. The animals are kept in wooden boxes and fed until the day they are needed for the ritual.
At the end of the party, all the snakes are released and return to their natural habitat. You might be thinking then: what is the problem are you then, completely healthy, go back to freedom?
Animal abuse and attack on biodiversity
To better understand the consequences of this tradition on snakes (and not only) we spoke with Massimo Vitturi, wild animal area manager of LAV. Here's what he told us:
The fact of taking these snakes from their natural habitat in this period is a very serious fact. It has a heavy impact because it is the reproductive period. As much as they may say: "Ah but we treat them well, we feed them, we do not harm them, etc.". It has nothing to do with it. All those animals that have been taken will not lay eggs and will not give life to the progeny and therefore to the snakes that should replace those that will die by natural death. This it is an attack on biodiversity, whose protection has entered the Constitution. There is a risk of seriously compromising local biodiversity, a problem that then affects everywhere.
Tradition cannot justify anything.
It is unacceptable that animals are involved in matters of faith or any other tradition in the XNUMXst century. There is an overlapping of planes: that of faith, human, subjective and that of respect for animals which goes completely beyond. It is not acceptable that animals are used with the excuse of tradition. And even less in a region likeAbruzzo where the protection of these animals is an example of avant-garde: a regional law has existed since 93 to protect the so-called minor fauna, including those same snakes who are captured for the rite.
In other words, the capture of those snakes in Abruzzo is illegal!
I am sorry that we are only now aware of this tradition. With our legal offices we evaluate the actions that must be carried out against the whole chain: from who gave the authorization to the last snake who went to collect these animals. Here there is not only the mistreatment of animals - because going to take them from their environment, put them in boxes and keep them there for weeks IS mistreatment of animals - there is also the violation of a regional law that also protects non-snake species. poisonous used in the party. All aggravated by the protection of biodiversity which two months ago was included in the Constitution, in Article 9.
LAV therefore promises that it will do everything to block this tradition - or rather - the animal aspect of this tradition:
The tradition continues, no one says that we should not celebrate the saint who those who have faith consider a protector from snake bites or who saved some inhabitants from anger. Everyone can live the faith as he wants but this cannot cross over into the mistreatment of animals. As LAV we will work hard to ensure that not only those responsible are called to answer for their acts but to close with this tradition, or rather with the part linked to snakes. Leave the snakes alone!
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