Highly venomous Snake Russell’s viper found in Bhairahawa, rescued safely

A highly venomous Russell’s viper was spotted near Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi. Locals contacted snake rescuers Bishal Pandey from Tilottama and Nabin Paudel from Butwal to safely remove the snake.

The rescuers captured the snake and released it in a safe area away from human settlements, Pandey said.

According to Pandey, the Russell’s viper is ranked as the 7th most venomous and dangerous snake in the world. Its venom mainly affects the human blood system, causing internal bleeding, blood disorders, and other serious health problems.

The snake has a brown to yellow-brown body with large dark brown or black oval spots, each outlined with a pale yellow or white line. This pattern sometimes makes people mistake it for a python, Paudel explained.

In Nepal, Russell’s vipers are mainly found in hot and dry areas of the Terai, including Bhairahawa, Kapilvastu, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur. Outside Nepal, they are also found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and parts of Southeast Asia. The species is named after British naturalist Patrick Russell.

The snake is usually seen in rice fields, grassy areas, bushes, and open spaces near homes, especially in the evening or at night. Pandey advised people to be careful during these times to avoid snake bites.

This year alone, Pandey and Paudel have rescued over 300 snakes, including 23 venomous cobras, from homes in Rupandehi and released them safely.