Udalguri-Sonitpur, July 6: The rescue of two highly venomous Russell’s Vipers in Assam’s Sonitpur district this year has prompted wildlife experts to urge residents and forest personnel to exercise greater caution while moving through snake-prone areas.
The first Russell’s Viper was rescued on February 21 from the veranda of Prashanta Saikia’s residence at Bam Parbatiya Luitpar by snake rescuer and wildlife expert Professor Saurav Borkataki. The second was rescued around midnight on July 5 from the Dipota area. Both snakes were subsequently handed over to the Tezpur Forest Department.
Professor Borkataki said he has now handed over a total of nine Russell’s Vipers to the Forest Department after rescuing them from different locations. According to him, eight of the previously rescued snakes were later transferred by the department to the Guwahati Zoo.
Describing the Russell’s Viper as one of South Asia’s most venomous snakes and among the world’s ten most dangerous venomous species, Borkataki expressed concern over what he believes is a growing presence of the species in areas such as Bihaguri, Dipota, Becheria and Parbatiya around Tezpur.
He explained that the snake’s venom is haemotoxic, damaging blood cells, disrupting blood clotting, causing severe internal bleeding and potentially leading to kidney failure and cardiac arrest, making its bite extremely life-threatening.
Borkataki also warned that the Russell’s Viper is often mistaken for a young python because of its appearance. He said such confusion can be dangerous, as people sometimes attempt to catch the snake assuming it is harmless. He further noted that a female Russell’s Viper can give birth to 30 to 40 or even more offspring at a time, contributing to the rapid increase in its population.
Appealing to the public, the wildlife expert advised anyone who encounters a Russell’s Viper to remain calm, keep a safe distance and immediately inform the Forest Department or a trained snake rescuer instead of trying to handle the reptile.
While handing over the latest rescued snake to the Tezpur Forest Department on Sunday morning, Borkataki also advised forest personnel to take additional precautions. Referring to earlier rescues from the Bihaguri–Rangamati field area, where forest staff frequently patrol because of elephant movement, he recommended that both forest officials and local residents wear knee-length gum boots and thick, full-length trousers while travelling through such areas to minimise the risk of snakebite.
