14 DAY TRIAL // Just recently, PETA decided that shake charmers would be better of using substitutes of these reptiles during their representations, as real cobras are bound to suffer when made to perform in front of crowds.
More specifically, PETA targeted the Naag Panchami festival, which is dedicated to a Hindu serpent god and which is to take place at the end of August in India.
Apparently, the cobras and other similar reptiles which are to be brought by snake charmers to this festival are likely to be kept in small boxes, where they will suffer from lack of air and proper food. As far as PETA members are concerned, this pretty much means torturing the animals.
Thus, they claim that rubber snakes can and should be used instead.
On the other hand, snake charmers argue that this is the only job they have at hand and, although it is not their intention to hurt the animals, they do not really have an alternative.