Besides these, tanned finished skins, bags, wallets and belts made from the material were also set afire. The skins, which were a minimum of five years old, began to rot after which orders were issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden R P S Katwal to destroy it.

Several of the snake skins were seized from illegal traffickers and the rest were BLC property, the official repository of the skin consignments after the Government imposed a ban on its trade in 1989.

The burnt pieces included 100 lizard skins, besides the skin of rat snakes, cobras and pythons that are endangered species. Dealership in the snake skin trade was banned as the snake population was fast dwindling due to skinningfor snake skin products. Wildlife officials said the ban had resulted in a considerable improvement in the snake population. As snake skin hardened after the reptile died, the creatures were usually skinned alive.

All snake skin products were exported abroad in the form of garments, bags, purses, belts, shoes and fancy items. It would take around four snake skins to make a tiny handbag.

With trade on snake skins banned, the Forest Department thought it fit to issue orders to burn them, as it did not have legal sale value.

Commercially, the snake skins could not be sold as it began rotting.

The rate for a finished snake skin product depends on the colour and finish, besides the variety of skin used. A small ladies handbag made of snake skin costs around Rs 500.