Climate Change Forcing Venomous Snakes Into New Indian Territories
Groundbreaking research published in the prestigious journal Nature reveals that climate change is actively redistributing venomous snakes across India, fundamentally altering long-established risk zones and exposing previously safe regions to potential danger. The study indicates that warming temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are compelling snake species to migrate to areas that better suit their ecological requirements, creating a major national reorganization of snakebite vulnerability.
Northern India Faces Highest Risk Increase
According to the comprehensive study conducted by experts in wildlife science, biology, and space applications, northern and central India appear particularly susceptible to increased human-snake encounters. The research team analyzed 4,966 snake occurrence records from various sources including citizen science portals, social media groups, and peer-reviewed studies, ultimately refining them to 2,931 unique locations for robust analysis.
The Himalayan belt and northeastern regions are projected to experience noticeable increases in venomous snake presence, while southern elevated areas, particularly parts of the Western Ghats, may also become more prone to human-snake interactions. Simultaneously, some currently high-risk zones might see reduced exposure as ecological conditions evolve.
India's Snakebite Crisis Worsens with Climate Shifts
India currently records the world's highest number of snakebite-related deaths with more than 50,000 fatalities annually, though actual numbers are likely higher due to underreporting in remote communities. Rural populations bear the greatest burden due to frequent exposure to farmland and forest edges where snakes thrive.
The crisis is largely driven by four medically significant species known as the 'big four':
- Common Krait
- Spectacled Cobra
- Russell's Viper
- Saw-scaled Viper
These ecologically resilient species thrive in human-dominated landscapes, ensuring their continued coexistence with expanding human settlements. Their adaptability makes them a persistent concern for medical and public health authorities.
Urgent Need for Climate-Aware Public Health Planning
Researchers modeled present and predicted distributions of snake hotspots under two climate scenarios for 2050 and 2070, representing different levels of future greenhouse gas concentrations. The findings indicate that snakebite risk is likely to rise in several new regions of India as snakes move into cooler or more favorable habitats.
The study emphasizes the critical importance of integrating climate-informed conservation measures with adaptive public health plans to minimize conflicts and reduce biodiversity loss. As India prepares for evolving patterns of snake distribution in coming decades, public health systems must anticipate and adapt to this emerging challenge to protect vulnerable communities.
