Snake Venom Medicine: With the monsoon, the number of snake bites in Gujarat also starts increasing. In Gujarat, more than 43,000 people have been bitten by snakes in the last five years. The highest number of snake bites is seen in South Gujarat. Every year, 'World Snake Day' is celebrated on July 16. The incidence of snake bites increases especially in rural areas during the monsoon.
'Snake Research Center' is functioning in Dharampur, Valsad
More than 50 species of snakes are found in Gujarat. Snake venom is also used in making medicines, which is very useful in the treatment of diseases like heart disease, blood pressure and cancer. In this regard, the state government has set up a 'Snake Research Center' at Dharampur in Valsad district, where several researches are being done to make anti-venom and other medicines from snake venom.
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More than 50 species of snakes in Gujarat
Several projects are being undertaken for the conservation and breeding of snakes. Under this, poisonous snakes like nag, black snake, furso and khalthara and non-poisonous snakes like python, dhaman, bhamphodi, and blind chakal are identified and their importance is explained to lakhs of visitors at the snake house in Indroda Nature Park in Gandhinagar and Sakkarbagh Zoo in Junagadh.
Protecting snakes means protecting the environment, to make this worthwhile, the forest department has set up snake rescue teams in urban and rural areas. This team safely captures snakes and releases them in their natural habitat.
Wildlife Care Center rescues 492 snakes in 1 year
The Wildlife Care Center run by the Forest Department has rescued and released approximately 492 snakes from around the Ahmedabad urban area in the last one year from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. There are more than 3000 species of snakes in the reptile class worldwide. Snakes are mainly of two types, poisonous and non-poisonous.
How to identify poisonous snakes found in Gujarat?
Snake: Cobra
This is one of the most poisonous snakes. The color of the cobra is found in various colors ranging from black to dark brown. When it inflates its fangs, a shape like glasses or a trident is seen in the fangs. Often such a shape is not seen and if there is a snake with only fangs, it is also a cobra or a nag.
Saw-scaled Viper
This venomous snake is found almost everywhere in India. Its color is brown, light yellow or sand-like. There is a pale white line on both sides of the back. This snake is short in size, but its venom is dangerous.
Russell's Viper
This snake looks like a python. That is why many people misunderstand it. It has three parallel chain-like lines on its body and its mouth is like a frog. The sound of its purring is like the sound of a chicken. The venom of this snake is also dangerous.
Black Rattlesnake
There are also some subspecies of Rattlesnake. Three of them are found in India. They include the plain Rattlesnake, the striped Rattlesnake and the black Rattlesnake. This type of snake is up to one and a half meters long. The number of scales from its head to its tail gradually decreases.
What to do when bitten by a snake?
- Venomous snakes mainly bite their prey and only for self-defense.
- If you encounter a snake, remain calm and keep a distance of at least 6 feet.
- Contact the forest department's helpline number 1926.
- Keep the bitten limb immobile and immediately reach the nearest hospital for treatment.
- Do not tease or disturb the snake.
- Do not cut or suck at the bite site, do not rely on traditional and home remedies.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake, killing or harming a snake is an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Tags : Snake-venom-medicine, Heart-disease-snake-venom, Snake-species-Gujarat
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