USER - Universal Snakebite Education & Research Organisation
Towards a zero snakebite mortality
About Snakes
Snakes are intrinsically amazing limbless reptiles that remained as a subject of fear and myth since the evolution of human race. They have a remarkable darting agility and specialized venom apparatus that have been used as a weapon for defense. These factors contribute in making snakes as the most misunderstood creature on earth.
Issues
Majority of the snakebite victims are the farmers and field workers. Approximately 50,000 deaths occur every year from India. Agriculture being the main job of rural population which feeds the world with food supply.
In India
India has a great potential and rich diversity of snake fauna of about 300 species have been identified. Among them, 62 species can be categorized as venomous, 42 species as mildly venomous and 172 as non venomous snakes. This number is comparatively less than the total spectrum of about 3000 species of snakes known globally. The four major and common venomous snake species in India are spectacled Cobra, common Krait, Russell’s Viper and saw-scaled Viper. They are familiarly referred as the Big-4 snakes of India.
Snakebites are often treated as a curse by the serpent gods than a medical situation and people often go to the faith healers to cure snake bites and the envenomated patients often loose the battle in the process. India is also the largest producer of Anti – Snake Venom and treatment of snake bites are free of cost in government hospitals. Yet, the country top snake bite charts across the world. Snake bites kill five people every hour across the country and Indian snake bite initiative is an effort of civil society to counter these deaths across the country.
Snake facts by the numbers
- 90 percent of snakebites occur during the summer
- 20-25 is the average age of snakebite victims
- 90 percent of snakebite victims are males
- 50 to 80 percent of the bites are to the hand
- 40 to 60 percent of the time the victim was handling the snake when bit
- 20 to 40 percent of the incidents involved victims who were drunk
Some popular
Snake Species
News Glitz
21
March
Man discovered with boa snake in his pants at Berlin Airport
21 March 2019
The 43-year-old man was attempting to pass through customs on his way to Israel when he was apprehended by security staff, who discovered the reptile concealed in his underwear. [...]
18
March
Cane toads seen riding a giant python as they escape flood
18 March 2019
A group of toads appeared to hitch a ride on the back of a large python as they escaped rising flood waters at a dam in the far north of Australia. [...]
Our Blog
According to biologist, the term poisonous is applied to the organisms that unload toxin which may kill us if we bite/consume them.Where as The term venomous is applied to the organisms that bite/sting us to inject their toxins, which may cause fatality. The poisonous organisms include most amphibians (Toad, frog and salamanders etc).These carries toxin on their skin and with in other tissues. The venomous organisms include Snakes, Spiders, Scorpion, Centipede and vasps etc.
Pets and venomous snakebite: As like humans, animals also suffer snakebite envenomation!
Cats: We all know cats are intelligent pet which are quick responsive! Sometimes, they bite snakes into pieces and kill them. Usually cats remain safe from snakebites.
Dogs: Though dogs are intelligent animals, sometimes they defend and get bitten by snakes! which causes serious consequences.
In case of snakebite... Rush to the nearby government medical college hospital.
The following are the list of free snakebite care hospitals in Tamilnadu with Anti snake venom (ASV) antibodies.
- Upgraded Govt.Primary health centers
- Govt.Taluk hospitals
- Govt.District headquarter hospitals
- Govt.Medical college hospitals
Snakebite is common! But biting back the bitten snake?
True story happened in North India...
A man who was bitten by a snake got his revenge on the limbless reptile by biting it back and killing it.Said the man's father. The victim, was relaxing at home, enjoying a drink on a weekend, when a snake slithered into his house in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, and bit him, said his father.....
Snake
Database
Distribution of snake bites by type of snake.
Real Stories
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The King Cobra immediately bit Prafulla Bhat on his right hand palm. Prafulla Bhat asked for water and lemon to clean his wound. The snake was still locked in his left hand. Within 5 mins of the bite
Oumkar Umesh
from Karnataka
Faq About Us
We welcome volunteers from all across the country. To become a volunteer, please fill the form
We welcome corporate houses to support this project by extending their CSR arm. You may send an email to jose@indiansnakes.org for more details.
We conduct education and awareness workshops in schools and other educational institutions across India to create awareness about snakes and snakebites. These awareness camps are done with the help of modern and traditional learning aids.
credits to indiansnakes.org
Snake krait bite Gohoni on his back. In a reflex action he shook the snake away which fell on his six-year-old daughter Dipanjali (Munmi).and entwined itself on her leg. As she moved, it bit her on the right hand a little above the wrist.
Gohoni Ganju
from Assam