Masi Sadaiyan

Masi Sadaiyan
OccupationSnake catcher
Known forTraditional snake catching for antivenom production
AwardsPadma Shri (2023)

Masi Sadaiyan is an Indian snake catcher from the Irula tribe of Tamil Nadu.[1] He is an expert in the traditional methods of tracking and capturing venomous snakes, useful for production of snakebite antivenom.[2] In 2023, he and his colleague Vadivel Gopal were jointly awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in recognition of their contributions to social work and affordable healthcare.[3]

Sadaiyan is a member of the Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society, which is the largest producer of snake venom in India.[4] His method relies on traditional knowledge and understanding of snake behavior, inherited through generations of the Irula community, allows him to work without modern equipment.[5]

In 2017, Sadaiyan traveled to Florida to assist state wildlife agencies by training them to track and capture invasive Burmese pythons in the Everglades.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Padma Awards 2023 announced". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  2. ^ "Irula Tribe Members Awarded The Padma Shri". www.sanctuarynaturefoundation.org. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  3. ^ Srimathi, Geetha (2023-02-02). "Bravehearts Vadivel and Sadaiyan shine a light for Irula cooperative". The Hindu. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  4. ^ "Vadivel Gopal and Masi Sadaiyan From the Irula Tribe Won the Padma Shri. Only Calling Them 'Snake Catchers' Reinforces Caste Stereotypes". www.theswaddle.com. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  5. ^ "'It is our God': Snake catchers from Tamil Nadu who won Padma award". India Today. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
  6. ^ "The Indian tribesmen catching giant snakes in Florida". BBC News. 2017-02-06. Retrieved 2025-06-15.
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