Factuals of Fatal snakes in TN - N.Balaji (M.Sc. Forestry)

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FACTUALS OF FATAL SNAKES IN TAMILNADU Fang facts, factoids & fables

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N.Balaji, MSc(Forestry) 09-622-403 ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dr.M.Bharathi, Ph.D., Chairman Professor (Biotechnology) Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Dr.P.Balasubramanian, Ph.D., Member – Advisory committee Professor (Nematology) & Head Department of Forest Biology Dr.K.T.Parthiban, Ph.D., Member – Advisory committee Associate professor (Forestry) Department of Forest Tree Breeding FOREST COLLEGE AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY METTUPALAYAM. CREDIT SEMINAR II 2011

Let me introduceour Cold blooded murderers : 

Let me introduceour Cold blooded murderers

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I’m the most inquisitive creature KING COBRA

KING COBRA : 

KING COBRA Ophiophagus hannah is the world's longest venomous snake, with a length up to 5.6 m Conservation status – vulnerable This species is widespread throughout Southeast Asia and parts of India like western ghats, palani hills, goa, assam and andhaman. It lives in dense highland forests The male is larger and thicker than the female. The average lifespan of a king cobra is about 20 years. (Mehrtens, 1987)

KING COBRA : 

KING COBRA Olive green snake with indistinct lighter crossbars across the back Good climber & snake eater, other than that monitor lizard for appetite Ophiophagus, means "snake eater“ Cannibalistic too…. Attacks anterior third of prey’s body – if prey turns in to defiant, it attacks on head with lightening speed. The only known snake to construct a two chambered nest – to incubate (Sharma, 1980)

KING COBRA : 

KING COBRA Keen eyesight - able to detect moving prey almost 100 m away. Intelligence and sensitivity to earth borne vibration to track its prey. Diurnal species - able to hunt at all times of day, rarely seen at night. Lays 20-40 eggs- incubation period 60-90 days. Male will also partake of parental obligation by remaining near the nest. Young born are 20 inches long. their venom is as deadly as that of an adult. (Sharma, 1980)

KING COBRA : 

KING COBRA If breeding female is disturbed at its nest – rise 4 to 5 feet from the ground, hiss angrily, growl like a dog These are intelligent and can be tamed if trusted. Although it is a highly dangerous snake, it prefers to escape unless it is cornered or provoked. slow metabolic rate – helps to last more than a month.

KING COBRA : 

KING COBRA The venom consists primarily of neurotoxins, but it also contains cardio toxic compounds. Half inch (1.25 cm) fangs into the wound, and quickly attacks the victim's central nervous system, inducing severe pain, blurred vision, vertigo, drowsiness, and paralysis. victim falls into a coma – death by respiratory failure Injecting a 380 - 600 mg dose in a single bite can kill an adult Asian elephant . It can cause the death of a healthy adult human within 15 minutes.

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Fishing nets are such a treacherous things BEAKED SEASNAKE

BEAKED SEASNAKE : 

BEAKED SEASNAKE Enhydrina schistosa, also known as the hook-nosed sea snake Tamil - Vala kadiyan found in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf the seas off South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia and New Guinea. Birth 15cm – high 1.5cm – common 60cm Hook like anterior region 20 spp…this one is common Habitat deep sea but like to wander in the shallow seas – frequently caught in fishing nets. (Romulus Whitaker, 1978)

BEAKED SEASNAKE : 

BEAKED SEASNAKE Lungs highly adapted for holding breath, but must come up for air Lungs run almost the entire length of the body Active in both day and night Always swim in water- rarely rest In 100m depth – stay up to 5 hrs Special glands to excrete salts Usually it wont bite (Voris, 1985)

BEAKED SEASNAKE : 

BEAKED SEASNAKE Probably 2-5 neonates during april Food: paralyze fishes by foray with neuro toxic venom. Venom of this snake is rated 4 to 8 times as toxic as cobra venom. About 1.5 milligrams of its venom is estimated to be lethal. (Voris, 1985)

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If you provoke; I will confront INDIAN COBRA

INDIAN COBRA : 

INDIAN COBRA The Indian Cobra or Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja) impressive characteristic - is the fascinating hood The Oriental Rat snake Ptyas mucosus is often mistaken for the cobra Banded Racer Argyrogena fasciolata and the Indian Smooth Snake Coronella brachyura also resembles cobra (Romulus Whitaker, 2004)

INDIAN COBRA : 

INDIAN COBRA Fascinating snakes with shy & timid nature Key identification – spectacle ring, black eyes, shiny scales. Birth 25cm – highest 2m (fm) – common 1m Resembles rat snake but it grows up to 3m. Resides in agricultural fields, rat burrows and between the stones Usual characteristic of evening hunting and it loves to roam freely during raining season. Its declining due to their indiscriminate killing for skin – 1973 skin transport has been banned.

INDIAN COBRA : 

INDIAN COBRA It lays 12 to 30 eggs – stay up to 60 days without food - leaves before one week of hatching. Usually may – July. Fav food: rats, frog and monitor lizard – it never give up the prey up to paralyzing it Venom: attacks nervous system, stop respiration & cardiac failure and hence instant death is caused. Zedoary, a local spice with a reputation for being effective against snakebite

INDIAN COBRA : 

INDIAN COBRA Cobra venom is most potent venom known as neurotoxic. 100 – 300 mg of venom is released with each bite 0.00002 g og dehydrated venom can kill a guinea pig or a rabbit. 1 g of it is fatal to 165 humans. (Sharma, 1980)

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My bites are Deceptive

COMMON KRAIT : 

COMMON KRAIT Bungarus caeruleus Body colour - dark steely blue-black to a pale faded bluish grey narrow white cross bands (apx 40) Birth 25cm – high 1.7m – common 1m Peninsular India from Sindh (Pakistan), to the West Bengal plains. It occurs throughout South India and Sri Lanka. It resides in termite mounds, brick piles, rat holes and also inside houses (Whitaker, 1978)

COMMON KRAIT : 

COMMON KRAIT Takes rest during day time – highly nocturnal. It is fond of water and is frequently found in it or within proximity to a water source. It bites like a hunting dog with its small fang Mar-may 6-12 eggs - mother stays throughout incubation period. It feeds primarily on other snakes other than lizards, frogs & rats Cannibalistic too - devour their young (Whitaker, 1978)

COMMON KRAIT : 

COMMON KRAIT Neuro toxic which induces muscle paralysis. Small fang – venom 6-8 times higher than cobra little or no pain from a krait bite - false reassurance to the victim. severe abdominal cramps -progressive paralysis Death- 6-8 hours after the krait bite - respiratory failure, suffocation. (Whitaker, 1978)

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I may be modest; but I’m vibrant SAW SCALED VIPER

SAW SCALED VIPER : 

SAW SCALED VIPER Echis carinatus Short head – pear shaped and distinct from the neck. The snout is short and rounded - Large eyes Found in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, parts of the Middle East and Africa north of the equator Insects, Skinks, geckos, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, frogs, toads, reptiles, small mammals and birds. (Mc Diarmid, 1999)

SAW SCALED VIPER : 

SAW SCALED VIPER distinctive threat display - series of parallel C-shaped coils and rubbing them together to produce a sizzling sound like water on a hot plate called stridulation When agitated, this behavior becomes faster This snake can be fierce and will strike from this position (Spawls,1995)

SAW SCALED VIPER : 

SAW SCALED VIPER It may be modest but have large fang Venom is powerful than russels viper It can able to affect more amount of blood Luckily net venom release of bite is less (Whitaker, 1978)

SAW SCALED VIPER : 

SAW SCALED VIPER Night life – wander in mornings during rainy & winter days. Likes dry & semi arid tracts. Apr & aug – 2 times.. 4-8 neonates Haemotoxin – defibrination in blood – cause haemophilia. It persist for days to weeks In humans, the lethal dose is estimated to be 3–5 mg (Minton, 1967) venom from females was more toxic than males. (Latifi, 1991) 20–35 mg of dried venom from specimens 41–56 cm in length. (Minton, 1974)

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I’m not pedestrian friendly RUSSELS VIPER

RUSSELS VIPER : 

RUSSELS VIPER Birth 24cm – high 1.8m – common 1m Responsible for causing the most snakebite D. russelii, is found in Asia throughout the Indian subcontinent, much of Southeast Asia, southern China and Taiwan Genus is a hindi name - "the lurker’’ Triangular, flattened head distinct from neck – covered by strongly fragmented scales Large eyes and nostrils Dangerous 16mm fang (Mc Diarmid, 1999)

RUSSELS VIPER : 

RUSSELS VIPER Found in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Taiwan and Indonesia It also found in Vietnam, Laos and on the Indonesian island of Sumatra Common in plains, coastal low lands. Humid environments, such as marshes, swamps and rain forests, are avoided Found in highly urbanized areas and settlements in the countryside. (Brown, 1973) (Mallow, 2003) (Daniels, 2002)

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Primarily as a nocturnal forager – during cool weather its diurnal. Adults are sluggish but shows sudden ferocious attack – juveniles are more nervous. When threatened it form S-loops – hiss sound louder than any other snake Its bite hang on for many seconds It feeds primarily on rodents, especially murid species Juveniles are crepuscular and cannibalistic. (Mallow, 2003) (Daniels, 2002)

RUSSELS VIPER : 

RUSSELS VIPER venom yields for adult 150–250 mg – in juvenile 8–79 mg lethal dose in human is 40–70 mg >1 cm fang – clots blood & affects tissue. venom 1/3rd of cobra – big fang and venom gland is enough for lethal Envenomation symptoms – pain, swelling, bleeding in gums and urine, Drop in blood pressure & heart beat (Mallow, 2003)

RUSSELS VIPER : 

RUSSELS VIPER Blistering and necrosis in muscles Vomiting and facial swelling – renal failure Early medical treatment will prevent these Severe pain may last for 2–4 weeks Death from septicaemia, kidney, respiratory or cardiac failure may occur 1 to 14 days post-bite or even later

SNAKE VENOM : 

SNAKE VENOM Venom apparatus Venom duct open within the sheath at the base of fang. Venom conducted to its tip through canal.

Cobra : 

Cobra Pain in bitten area Swelling probably after 1hr – ulcer Gradual reduction in eye sight & balance – rigid tongue Excess saliva secretion – Blabbering Imperfect body movement Unconsciousness Suffocation & fits

Common krait : 

Common krait No pain + no swelling No symptoms even after few hrs – sudden & drastic symptoms afterwards Stomach pain – rheumatism - 6-12 hrs Bites mostly at night time – carelessness leads to coffin

Russels viper : 

Russels viper Irritation – sudden swelling – with in 2 hrs Blisters & bleeding in gum – barfing, nervousness & catatonic Blood stains in puke, feces & urine Urinary system failure – in 24 hrs Eye sight reduction – suffocation

Saw scaled viper : 

Saw scaled viper Irritation in bitten area – may be less Hand, leg and joint pains Swelling with in 2hrs – especially after running Bleeding in gums - urine with blood 12-24 hrs bleeding in internal organs Loss of strength - anemia Chance for cardiac failure

How 2 identify fatal snakes : 

How 2 identify fatal snakes Non Poisonous Snakes Head - Rounded Fangs - Not present Pupils - Rounded Anal Plate - Double row Bite Mark - Row of small teeth. Poisonous Snakes Head – Triangle Fangs – Present Pupils - Elliptical pupil Anal Plate - Single row Bite Mark - Fang Mark

What cause the increase in mortality : 

What cause the increase in mortality Poor knowledge about snake bite * Snake bite very often happens untimely hours. * Tendency to seek traditional remedies first. * No easy access to medical facilities * Scarce or no supply of ASV in peripheral center and the cost factor. * Most of the deaths happens in less than 24hr (often<12hr – neurotoxic snakes)

THE SOLUTION - ASV (polyvalent) : 

THE SOLUTION - ASV (polyvalent) After all, there are only two main categories of venomous snakes ELAPIDS NEUROTOXIC VENOM VIPERIDS VASCULOTOXIC VENOM ASV is prepared by hyperimmunising horses against venoms of snake 1 ml of ASV neutralises Cobra – 0.6 mg Common krait – 0.45mg Russels viper – 0.6 mg Saw scaled viper – 0.45 mg

FACTS & FACTOIDS : 

FACTS & FACTOIDS Snakes cannot hear airborne sounds Snakes do hear some sounds through their lungs, but they mostly respond to vibrations. (Whitaker, 1992)

Snakes are not found all over the world : 

Snakes are not found all over the world Not found in Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Hawaii and some other arctic snow­bound regions of the world Most Australian snakes are deadly poisonous Snakes are not countless in their species Nearly 3000 species of snakes from all over the world of which about 375 are venomous. Indian snake fauna is comprised of 244 species of which about 57 are poisonous. Hence nearly 22% snakes are poisonous

All snakes are not deadliest : 

All snakes are not deadliest Mr. Koose Muniswamy Veerappan Sir Dietrich Brandis Deteriorator Conservator

Snakes cannot fly : 

Snakes cannot fly Chrysopelea ornata found in India are called flying snakes due to their gliding locomotion from one branch of the tree to another (Sharma, 1980) No double headed snakes Tail like head and head like tail – just a deception

Over-exaggeration in snake size : 

Over-exaggeration in snake size Green Ana­conda (Eunectus murinus) 37 ft Python reticulatus 32 ft king cobra 18 ft common Indian blind snake <30 cm

Snakes do not sting but bite : 

Snakes do not sting but bite Snakes venom is not freely found in the blood

No hypnotic eyes : 

No hypnotic eyes

Snake venom immunity in mongoose and other animals : 

Snake venom immunity in mongoose and other animals All snakes do not turn their head during biting

No snake's shadow can blind a man : 

No snake's shadow can blind a man Starvation and longevity records exaggeration

The colour is not the exact key to know a poisonous snake : 

The colour is not the exact key to know a poisonous snake Wolf snake Common krait Sand boa Russels viper

Snakes are not aggressive by nature : 

Snakes are not aggressive by nature

Pythons do not crush their prey by contrictions before engulfing it : 

Pythons do not crush their prey by contrictions before engulfing it Snake do not steal milk from the cattle udder

Snakes cannot dig burrows : 

Snakes cannot dig burrows

All deaths due to snakebite are instant : 

All deaths due to snakebite are instant Neurotoxic and it results in respiratory failure and instant death. Vipers are Haemotoxic and affect the blood vessels by causing haemolysis and anticoagulation. No natural association with wealth Most snakebite deaths in India are due to fright than the bite

Male and female snakes can be distinguished and they never take revenge : 

Male and female snakes can be distinguished and they never take revenge All snakebites are not lethal Incision in the first aid of snakebite may prove fatal

All venomous snakes are not equally venomous : 

All venomous snakes are not equally venomous Some snakes do eat other snakes

No cross breeds in snakes : 

No cross breeds in snakes All snakes do not spit

The duration of venom diffusion in the blood is not constant : 

The duration of venom diffusion in the blood is not constant The average human body contains 350,000 miles of veins and arteries including 100,000 miles of capillaries. If the bite is on a parent vein, the venom reaches the heart in 18 seconds Injection the medicine is expected to reach the farthest vein in two seconds. Actually it takes 18 seconds by a medicine to commence producing its healing results. Snakes are superb Swallowers

Some non-poisonous snakes also have hood : 

Some non-poisonous snakes also have hood Green keel back Pseudoxenodon macropus Even our deadliest venomous snakes are not more dangerous than our pesticides

Cobras and King Cobras are different Species : 

Cobras and King Cobras are different Species

Importance of fatal snakes : 

Importance of fatal snakes Rodent control: Investigation on scat studies by Madras Snake park - >12 snakes have 80% scats with rodent remaining. 10 Snakes of about 1m consumed about 160 rodents/month During a month various species of snakes consumed 6 to 20 rats and mice, the average consumption per snake per month concerns to 11 Natural control of Non-rodent food animals Frogs, toads, lizards, birds, eggs, etc.. In gut analysis of Himalayan pit viper. (Sharma and Sharma, 1980) (Whitaker, 1985) (Whitaker and Dattatri 1986)

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Snakes as food Tribals in India including Dhami and Pansi relish the snake as food. Some tribals such as Chakmas in eastern India and Poliyars of Kerala eat snake meat regularly. Sea snakes have become a popular delicacy in Japan, China and Hong Kong where they are eaten fried or smoked Snakes in medicine Anti venom serum, thrombosis, cobra – pain killer, Viper – Anti bleeding, L-amino acid oxidase used for preparation of a-keto acids. (Sharma, 1970)

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Snakes in basic research Educational , biological, physiological and embryological research. Snakes as pets Pythons and King Cobras command high price in the international market THREATS: Clearance of original habitat Forest fire Hunted for their skin (Sharma, 1970)

CONSERVATION MEASURES : 

CONSERVATION MEASURES Habitat protection To ensure the long-term survival of a snake species, its habitat will have to be conserved. Protect with in national or regional parks. Establish few reserves especially for snakes (ie. Japan) Reserves can be integrated in to a regional landscape that allows a multiplicity of uses compatible with small vertebrate conservation (Harris, 1988) (Corbett, 1989) (Tokunaga, 1991) (Western, 1989)

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Serious barriers to wildlife dispersal is the increasingly complex system of roads and highways that surround or crisscross nearly all natural habitats Habitat patches separated by roads (Reh, 1990) Roads bisecting snake habitats have resulted in significant mortality Barriers like snake pit and modified three-beam guardrail barriers (Mader, 1984) (Klauber, 1939) (Southall, 1991)

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Individual based option Capitive breeding of snakes has been used rather infrequently in connection with habitat-related conservation plans. Zoos and many private individuals are increasingly taking an organized and systematic approach to snake capitive propogation programs. Education Problems in teaching environment awareness is the detachment of many people The reasons various educational exposures do or do not work are complex (Bloxam, 1987) (Hutchins, 1991) (Williams, 1988)

Legal Issues : 

Legal Issues Cobra and mongoose fights. These gory fight shows, in which the snake was usually killed, are restricted by Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 1968 for example indicate that no less than ten million snakes (valued at over Rs. 107 million) were slaughtered The 1975-76 Export Policy for Wildlife Products put a brake on this uncontrolled harvest. (venom, skin) 1976 the World Wildlife Fund Office in Calcutta reported the export of two and a half tons of snake skins stock. The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 which encompasses Indian animal life and provides stringent protection for endangered and rare species Rock Python and Reticulated Python are listed under Schedule II 1983 – CITES listed Cobra, King cobra, Russels viper under Appendix III

CASE STUDIES : 

CASE STUDIES ON THE THREAT TO SNAKES OF MESH DEPLOYED FOR EROSION CONTROL AND WILDLIFE EXCLUSION (Joshua et al., 2011) Wire mesh deployed for reducing soil run-off and exclusion of horticultural pests cause mortality in snakes due to entanglement. The easiest material to use in soil stabilization is a loose layer of broadcasted organic material (e.g., wood mulch, coir, etc.). Research is necessary to test the ability of various wildlife control products to exclude target wildlife species without entangling snakes

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SNAKE BITE AND THERAPEUTIC MEASURES: INDIAN SCENARIO (Meenatchisundaram et al., 2009) Anti snake venom for neutralizing snake bite venom has been made by injecting horses with small quantities of venom to produce an immune reaction. Antibodies are then harvested from the animal's blood. Products of animal serum can produce adverse side effects such as anaphylactic reactions and serum sickness Avian egg yolk antibodies will play a major role in treatment of snakebite envenomations (immunotherapy) in future.

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Snakebite Mortality in India: A Nationally Representative Mortality Survey (Mohapatra et al., 2011) Nationally representative study of 123,000 deaths from 6,671 randomly selected areas in 2001-03. Snakebite deaths 2001–03 and estimated national totals, by age.

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Estimated snakebite deaths in the Indian states with a high prevalence of snakebite deaths, 2005. (Mohapatra et al., 2011)

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Seasonality pattern of snakebite mortality and rainfall in states with high prevalence of snakebite deaths (2001–03). (Mohapatra et al., 2011)

CONCLUSION : 

CONCLUSION Than Q Conclusion