Russell’s viper is one of the most venomous snakes in the world. It is responsible for many snake bite related deaths in the Indian subcontinent regions like India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. This year, the venomous snake was spotted in all 64 districts across Bangladesh prompting widespread fear and anxiety among residents.
As a result, people are actively hunting the snake, despite it having protection under Bangladesh’s Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act since 2012.
Professor Farid Ahsan, a major authority on snakes, told The Guardian that in 10 years from 2013 to 2023, about 10 people a year were killed due to bites from Russell’s vipers. This annual average has already been reached in 2024, when the year is halfway through. Most victims of the snake bite are farmers who work in dense fields. Professor Farid Ahsan thinks the rise in Russell’s Viper population can be related to the decline in its natural predators like eagles, mongoose, and kites population.
When bitten by Russell’s viper, the victim needs urgent administration of anti-venom shots. However, many rural areas do not have the anti-venom. Currently, Bangladesh imports anti-venom from India. According to The Guardian, Bangladesh’s Venom Research Centre is in process of developing locally produced anti-venom that is expected to be more effective.
Due to the dire consequences of Russell’s viper bite, conservationists and experts are emphasising the importance of raising awareness and increasing preventive measures. It is recommended that people should keep the lights on at night so that one does not come in the way of a hidden snake. Farmers should wear rubber boots in fields and make noise with sticks or move the crops with sticks to frighten away snakes. The indiscriminate killing of Russell’s viper can disbalance the ecology, which will have long term negative implications.
Mahfuzur Rahman, founder of Bangladesh’s Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation, told The Guardian that sensational and false information about the snake is causing panic among people. He gave an example of a viral post that claims that Russell’s viper chases people, when in fact it is very elusive towards humans.
The Russell’s viper is mostly terrestrial but can also be found in water bodies. Like most snakes, it is nocturnal, especially during hot weather and becomes active during the day in cool weather.
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