- Eight snakebite deaths in two months triggered panic in Kerala, but long-term data show snakebite mortality is steadily declining.
- Heat alone cannot explain the rise in snake encounters; experts point to a mix of ecological, behavioural and social factors.
- Kerala’s snake-reporting network and citizen-science initiatives are generating unprecedented data on human-snake interactions and improving rescue response, public awareness, and data collection.
Panic struck Kerala this year when eight snakebite deaths were reported from six districts across the state within a span of two months this summer. Six of the eight deaths were reported between April 20 and 26. A constant stream of fear-inducing reports in both the mainstream and social media intensified public anxiety around snakebites.
The heightened concern was reflected in the number of calls received by Team SARPA (Snake Awareness, Rescue, Protection App), a network of trained snake rescuers and forest officials.
In August 2020, Kerala introduced guidelines for the rescue and release of snakes from human-dominated areas by certified snake rescuers, leading to the formation of the SARPA team and a mobile application. The platform allows residents to report snake sightings and alert nearby rescuers, enabling rapid responses to snake-related incidents, improving documentation, and promoting public awareness of snake safety and conservation.
“There are around 3,500 active licensed snake rescuers in the state. But with the intense media attention this year, we started receiving more than 100 calls a day for volunteers, and most of them were panic calls,” says Sandeep Das, research associate at the University of Calicut and SARPA master trainer. “When media focus shifted to election coverage and political developments in the state, the number of calls gradually came down.”
“A combination of factors such as the unusually high atmospheric temperatures triggered by the heatwave, the egg-hatching season of venomous snakes such as the Indian cobra, Russell’s viper, and saw-scaled viper led to more human-snake encounters during the summer this year,” Das points out.
After a brief lull brought largely by the election season, Kerala is once again witnessing a rise in reports of snake sightings, involving not only venomous snakes but also non-venomous species such as pythons.
On June 11, 18 python hatchlings were found on the premises of a house in Ponkunnam over two days. Just days earlier, a snake was spotted among books in the library of Victoria College in Palakkad district.
“With the onset of monsoon, snakebite incidents could rise further across southern India,” says Dr. Jaideep C. Menon, a snake envenomation management expert who serves on committees under the Kerala Government, the Indian Council for Medical Research, and the World Health Organization.
Despite periodic spikes in snake sightings and public concern, records show that Kerala has been witnessing a decline in snakebite deaths over the past decade. According to the Forest Department data, 119 snakebite deaths were recorded in 2016-2017 and 123 in 2018-19. The cases dropped to 52 in 2020-21, rose slightly to 65 in 2021-22, and then continued to decline. In 2025, 34 snakebite deaths were recorded. Overall, snakebite mortality in the state has decreased by roughly 70-75% over the past six years.
Following the pattern
In Kerala, snakebite cases and snake sightings are typically reported in higher numbers during two distinct periods: March-April, which coincides with the peak summer season, and July-August, during the height of the monsoon, according to Menon. These seasonal peaks are often associated with increased snake activity and a greater likelihood of human-snake encounters.
Recognising snakebite as a major public health concern, the Kerala government declared it a notifiable disease in October 2025. The move was intended to strengthen data collection, improve documentation, and streamline treatment protocols related to snakebite incidents across the state.
According to Forest Department data, around 120 species of snakes have been identified in Kerala. Snakebite also accounts for the highest number of human deaths arising from human-wildlife conflict in the state.
While much of the media narrative around recent snakebite cases linked them to intensifying heat, experts from the Zoological Survey of India share that the situation is shaped by a complex interplay of ecological and behavioural factors.
“Snakes are cold-blooded animals, and their natural habitats are often cooler than the surrounding environment. As atmospheric temperatures rise, snakes tend to reduce their activity and remain sheltered in cooler spaces to conserve energy. However, they still emerge periodically in search of food, water, and mates, increasing the likelihood of accidental encounters with humans during certain times of the year,” explains Pratyush Mohapatra, scientist and officer in charge of the Reptilia section at the Zoological Survey of India.
He adds that it would be premature to draw definitive conclusions without a thorough investigation. “It remains unclear whether the increase in snake sightings is linked to current climatic conditions or other factors. While rising construction activity and habitat loss could be contributing factors, there is no concrete data available yet to support these claims.”
Mohapatra also points out that growing public awareness may be a major reason for the rise in snake-related reports in Kerala. Earlier, many people may have ignored snake sightings, whereas now they are more likely to contact snake rescuers for assistance.
Experts emphasise that snakes are an important component of healthy ecosystems and that reducing conflict requires learning to coexist with them. “We are constantly trying to transgress into areas which are theirs,” Menon says.
Menon cautions against the common perception that snakebite risk is largely confined to rural areas. “Not just rural areas, urban spaces also possess snakebite risks. Rapid urbanisation and poor waste management create favourable conditions for rodents, which naturally attract snakes into human settlements. In Kerala, there are a lot of vacant houses in rural and urban areas. These spaces often become ideal breeding grounds for snakes.”
Beyond the bites
An increase in reported sightings does not necessarily mean snake populations are increasing, experts say. Greater public awareness, wider use of social media, and expanding human settlements near forests have all contributed to more frequent reporting of human-snake encounters.
“Since snakes are photographed more and [the images are] circulated on social media these days, there is a perception among the public that snake numbers are rising,” says Abhijith Das, herpetologist and scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India. “Human habitations close to forested areas have also increased considerably, increasing human interactions with snakes. While the overall diversity of forest snakes is likely to deplete, the population of human commensals like cobras and kraits may increase as these snakes can also live in built-up habitats.”
At the same time, effective snakebite management remains a public health priority. The Indian Polyvalent Antivenom continues to be the primary treatment for severe envenomation, but it has limitations. Antivenom can trigger adverse reactions in some patients and may not be equally effective against all medically important snake species. Identifying the snake responsible for a bite can therefore help doctors make better clinical decisions, improve treatment outcomes, and generate more accurate epidemiological data.
“In Kerala, 3,000 to 8,000 snakebites are reported annually. Most of the bites would be non-venomous or dry bites. If you happen to get bitten by a snake, it is better to get a photo of the snake even though it’s not necessary,” Das says.
To strengthen public awareness and clinical response, a team of scientists, nature enthusiasts and doctors developed the mobile application Snakepedia in 2021. The Android application documents Kerala’s snake diversity through photographs, infographics and podcasts, while also providing information on first aid, treatment, myths and superstitions associated with snakebites.
“To create awareness about snake envenomation we need multiple stakeholder involvement. In Kerala, we have hospital networks and trained doctors and rescuers,” Das adds. “Now the response time in the doctors group is 0.5 seconds.”
Education and awareness, experts argue, remain the most effective tools for fostering positive attitudes towards snakes and the broader biodiversity of the region. To support this effort, Team SARPA developed Sarpa Paadam, a curriculum dedicated to snake awareness that has been introduced in schools across the state. The team also conducts awareness sessions in residential communities and at snake rescue sites, helping people understand snake behaviour, safety measures and the ecological role of snakes.
“The rising cases of sightings, though alarming, is the natural outcome of increased public participation and better reporting systems,” Mohapatra says, adding: “It is important to allow the data to stabilise over time, which may take four to five years. Once reporting standards and participation levels become consistent, a clearer picture of snake distribution and human-snake interactions will emerge.”
Experts say that such micro-level data on snake sightings can provide valuable insights for research, conservation planning, public policy and awareness programmes. They argue that citizen-science initiatives and reporting systems similar to what is happening now in Kerala should be encouraged across India to strengthen biodiversity monitoring and to promote coexistence with wildlife.
Banner image: A Russell’s viper seen close to where humans live. Image by Sandeep Das.
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