Professor Satish Kumar of AMU’s wildlife department points out that there is a common social belief that a snake bite kills a person, but this is not entirely true. In reality, not all snakes are poisonous. Only a few species pose a real threat. India has about 300 to 350 species of snakes, while the global total is estimated to be around 4,000.
Of these, only 10 percent of snakes in India are venomous, while about 90 percent are completely non-venomous. There is no need to fear such snakes. Snakes generally avoid humans. As soon as they sense the presence of a person, they try to escape, hiding in crevices, crevices, garbage heaps or bushes. Snakes bite only when stepped on or provoked, such as by being poked or prodded with a stick.
Professors point out that the activity of snakes varies with the seasons. They are more active during monsoon and summer season. As temperatures drop in winter, most snakes hibernate and hide underground or in sheltered areas. However, if there are a few consecutive days of sunshine during the winter, they emerge to bask in the sun and then return to hide. The most venomous snakes in India include cobras, kraits and vipers.
Cobras are identified by their fins. When they sense danger, they spread their fangs to warn. Cobras are active both day and night. Crates, on the other hand, are generally calm and don’t bite for no reason. They are mainly nocturnal. Their head and neck are not clearly distinguished; The head appears thin and attached to the body. Vipers, on the other hand, are active both day and night. A distinctive feature of the Russell’s Viper is its triangular head.
He said that the venom of these snakes also affects the nervous system, i.e. the brain and nerves, while the venom of vipers damages the circulatory system. Viper bites cause severe pain, and if the venom spreads further, blood vessels burst, causing excruciating pain.
If a person has been bitten by a venomous snake, he should be taken immediately to the nearest primary health center or hospital so that anti-venom can be administered in time. Wasting time on witchcraft, mantras, or home remedies can prove fatal. Sometimes, witch doctors claim to cure snakebite patients, but in such cases, the snake is often non-venomous. Such delay can also lead to death in case of venomous snake bite.
In some cases, even after taking antivenom, it can take months for the body to fully recover, he said. It depends on the amount of venom injected by the snake. For example, a king cobra can inject up to 6 milliliters of venom at a time, which is very lethal. Not all snakes are harmless. For example, the rattlesnake, which is usually found near human settlements, is completely non-venomous.
A rattlesnake eats thousands of rats in its lifetime. Hence it is considered a friend of farmers, as it reduces the number of rats that damage the crops. Therefore, it is important not to fear all snakes by assuming that they are poisonous. Most snakes are friends, not enemies, of humans. Only proper information, vigilance and awareness can remove misconceptions about snakes.
Chandigarh,Chandigarh,Chandigarh