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Tamil Nadu (TNBSE)Class 5 EVS★ 3-5 marks in Class 5 EVS assessments; snakes, snake charmers, and wildlife protection

A Snake Charmer's Story

A Snake Charmer's Story is a current Class 5 CBSE EVS chapter from NCERT Looking Around. These notes cover snake charmers, snake types, fangs, venom, wildlife protection, and the Kalbeliya community.

⏱ 11 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · TNBSE syllabus

Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) chapters aren't published yet — showing the NCERT equivalent

Tamil Nadu uses Samacheer Kalvi textbooks, not NCERT. Use this for the concepts; check chapter names and order against your own textbook.

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Describe the Kalbeliya community and their traditional livelihood
2Distinguish venomous from non-venomous snakes with examples
3Explain fangs, venom, and what to do about a snake bite
4State the purpose of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972)
5Appreciate why snakes should be protected

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Why this chapter matters

'A Snake Charmer's Story' introduces the traditional Kalbeliya community of Rajasthan and teaches children about different snakes, fangs, venom, and the Wildlife Protection Act. It builds respect for both cultural traditions and the need to protect wildlife, and corrects common myths about snakes.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Class 4 EVS: Animals around us

Basic knowledge of animals and their habitats

A Snake Charmer's Story — Class 5 EVS (CBSE)

Based on the NCERT Looking Around Grade 5 textbook. Learn about snake charmers and snakes, then solve the practice set.

1. Why this chapter matters

Snake charmers have been part of Indian culture for centuries. This chapter introduces students to the Kalbeliya community — a traditional snake-charming community from Rajasthan. It also teaches about different types of snakes, their fangs, and venom. The chapter discusses wildlife protection laws and why snake charming is now illegal. Students learn to respect both the cultural traditions and the need to protect wildlife.

2. The Kalbeliya community

The Kalbeliyas are a traditional community from Rajasthan. Men used to catch snakes and women would dance and sing. The community earned their living by performing with snakes. However, India's Wildlife Protection Act (1972) made it illegal to catch and display snakes. Many Kalbeliya families have had to find other ways to earn a living.

Today, Kalbeliya dance and music have gained international recognition. UNESCO has declared Kalbeliya folk songs and dances as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

3. Types of snakes in India

India has many types of snakes. Some are venomous (poisonous), and some are not.

Snake	Venomous?	Features
Cobra	Yes	Hood, very venomous. One of the 'Big Four' dangerous snakes of India.
Viper	Yes	Triangle-shaped head, thick body, long fangs.
Krait	Yes	Black or blue with white bands. Very venomous.
Rat snake	No	Non-venomous. Helps farmers by eating rats.
Python	No	Non-venomous. Kills prey by squeezing (constriction).
Checkered keelback	No	Non-venomous. Found near water.

4. Snake fangs and venom

Snakes use their fangs to inject venom. Venom is a type of poison that can kill prey or defend against enemies.

Fangs: Sharp, hollow teeth that inject venom.
Venom: A poisonous liquid produced in special glands.
Anti-venom: A medicine that can save a person bitten by a venomous snake.

What to do if a snake bites

Stay calm. Panic spreads venom faster.
Keep the bitten area still and below heart level.
Remove tight clothing or jewellery near the bite.
Get to a hospital immediately for anti-venom.
Do NOT cut the wound or try to suck out venom.

5. Wildlife Protection Act

The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 makes it illegal to:

Capture or keep wild animals, including snakes.
Display snakes for entertainment.
Trade in snake skins or other animal parts.

This law was made to protect India's wildlife from extinction. While it affected the livelihood of snake charmers, it was necessary to protect snake populations.

6. Activity corner

Activity 1: Find out if there are snake charmers in your area. Talk to elders in your family about whether they have seen snake charmers in the past.

Activity 2: Learn about the 'Big Four' venomous snakes of India. Draw each one and label its identifying features.

Activity 3: Write a paragraph about why it is important to protect snakes, even though some are venomous.

7. Common mistakes

Mistake: Thinking all snakes are dangerous Fix: Most snakes are non-venomous and help control pests like rats.
Mistake: Believing snake charmers 'charm' snakes with music Fix: Snakes are deaf to airborne sounds. They follow the movement of the flute, not the music.
Mistake: Confusing venom with poison Fix: Venom is injected (bite). Poison is ingested or absorbed (eating, touching).

8. Key facts

Snake charmers traditionally belong to the Kalbeliya community of Rajasthan.
The Wildlife Protection Act (1972) bans capturing and displaying snakes.
India has 'Big Four' venomous snakes: Cobra, Krait, Russell's Viper, Saw-scaled Viper.
Most snakes are non-venomous and helpful to farmers.
Snake venom can be used to make anti-venom medicine.
Kalbeliya dance is recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

9. Self-test

What community traditionally practices snake charming in Rajasthan?
Why is snake charming now illegal?
Name two non-venomous snakes found in India.
What should you do if a snake bites someone?
What is the difference between venom and poison?

10. Answer key

What community traditionally practices snake charming in Rajasthan? Answer: The Kalbeliya community.
Why is snake charming now illegal? Answer: The Wildlife Protection Act (1972) makes it illegal to capture, keep, or display wild animals including snakes.
Name two non-venomous snakes found in India. Answer: Rat snake and python (also checkered keelback).
What should you do if a snake bites someone? Answer: Stay calm, keep the bite still and below heart level, remove tight items, and get to a hospital for anti-venom. Do not cut the wound or suck out venom.
What is the difference between venom and poison? Answer: Venom is injected through a bite or sting. Poison is absorbed through eating, touching, or inhaling.

11. Quick revision

Kalbeliya community: traditional snake charmers from Rajasthan.
Wildlife Protection Act (1972): protects snakes and other wildlife.
India's 'Big Four' venomous snakes: Cobra, Krait, Russell's Viper, Saw-scaled Viper.
Non-venomous snakes: Rat snake, Python.
Snake charmers do not 'charm' snakes with music — snakes follow movement.
Venom = injected. Poison = ingested/absorbed.
Protect snakes — they are important for the ecosystem.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Big Four venomous snakes of India

Cobra, Krait, Russell's Viper, Saw-scaled Viper

Responsible for most serious snake bites in India.

Venom vs poison

Venom is injected (bite/sting); poison is ingested or absorbed

An important distinction in the chapter.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Thinking all snakes are dangerous

✓ Most snakes are non-venomous and help farmers by eating rats and pests.

WATCH OUT

✗ Believing snake charmers 'charm' snakes with music

✓ Snakes are deaf to airborne sounds; they follow the movement of the flute, not the music.

WATCH OUT

✗ Confusing venom with poison

✓ Venom is injected through a bite, while poison is taken in by eating, touching, or inhaling.

NCERT exercises

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Think and Discuss

Questions on snake charmers and wildlife laws

Questions

Find Out

Learning about snakes and the Kalbeliya community

Questions

Practice problems

Work through this chapter's problems as a readiness check — reveal each solution, mark yourself honestly, and get your gap report at the end.

Readiness check

Are you exam-ready for A Snake Charmer's Story?

4 problems from this chapter. Try each one, reveal the worked solution, mark yourself honestly — get your gap report at the end.

4 questions~3 min worth ~5 marks in Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) exams

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•The Kalbeliya community of Rajasthan are traditional snake charmers.
•The Wildlife Protection Act (1972) bans capturing and displaying snakes.
•India's Big Four venomous snakes: Cobra, Krait, Russell's Viper, Saw-scaled Viper.
•Most snakes are non-venomous and help control rats and pests.
•Snake venom is used to make life-saving anti-venom medicine.
•Snakes follow the movement of the flute, not the music (they are deaf to air sounds).
•Kalbeliya dance is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 3-5 marks, depending on the school paper

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Very Short / MCQ	1-2	1-2	Kalbeliya community, snake types
Short Answer	2-3	1	Wildlife protection and snake facts

Prep strategy

Learn the Kalbeliya community and their tradition
Distinguish venomous and non-venomous snakes
Remember the purpose of the Wildlife Protection Act
Know the difference between venom and poison

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Wildlife conservation

Understanding snakes helps protect them and the balance of nature.

Pest control

Non-venomous snakes help farmers by eating rats and other pests.

Cultural heritage

The Kalbeliya dance shows how traditions can survive and gain global recognition.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Name the Kalbeliya community for tradition questions

Classify snakes as venomous or non-venomous

State the Wildlife Protection Act for legal questions

Keep venom and poison clearly separate

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

STRETCH

Research the Big Four snakes and draw their identifying features.

STRETCH

Find out how anti-venom is made from snake venom.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

CBSE Class 5 School ExamHigh

EVS / general knowledge OlympiadMedium

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Questions students ask

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The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was passed to stop the capture, trade, and display of wild animals, including snakes, because too many were being taken from the wild. Although this affected the livelihood of snake charmers, it was necessary to protect snake populations and India's wildlife from being harmed or wiped out.

Snakes play an important role in nature. Many of them eat rats and other pests, which helps farmers protect their crops and keeps pest numbers under control. Snakes are also food for other animals, so they are part of the food chain. Even venomous snakes are useful, because their venom is used to make anti-venom that saves the lives of snake-bite victims.

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