In India, we have nearly 300 species of snakes, most of which are harmless. But there are some deadly ones that kill thousands of people. These snake bites can be avoided. While 15 species of snakes kill humans, just four of them account for the majority of deaths in India – Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper, krait and spectacled cobra.
The World Health Organization estimates that between 81,000 and 1.38 lakh people around the world die each year from snakebite and up to four lakh are permanently disabled or disfigured as a result of being bitten by venomous snakes. In India alone, 58,000 people die due to snakebites making it the snakebite capital of the world.
“Knowing the habits of these snakes and taking steps to avoid encounters with them can save many many lives,” says award-winning wildlife conservationist Romulus Whitaker, founder of Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT).
