Butwal, August 14
A highly venomous Russell’s viper snake was found in Bhairahawa of Rupandehi district. The snake was spotted near the Gautam Buddha International Airport, after which locals informed snake rescuers Bishal Pandey from Tilottama and Nabin Poudel from Butwal.
Rescuer Pandey said they reached Bhairahawa and safely released the snake to a location far from human settlements. According to him, the Russell’s viper ranks seventh among the world’s most venomous and dangerous snakes. Its venom is hemotoxic, directly affecting human blood, causing clotting disorders, internal bleeding, and other severe health complications.
The snake’s body features large round or oval dark brown to black spots on a brown to yellow-brown background, bordered by whitish to pale yellow lines. Poudel said many people mistake it for a python due to its appearance.
In Nepal, the Russell’s viper is mainly found in the hot and dry plains of the Tarai, particularly in and around Bhairahawa, Kapilvastu, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur. It is also found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and parts of Southeast Asia.
Named after British zoologist Patrick Russell, the snake is often seen in paddy fields, grassy meadows, bushes, and open areas around houses, especially in the evenings or at night, increasing the risk of snakebites. Pandey advised people to remain cautious during these times.
This year alone, Pandey and Paudel have rescued over 300 snakes, including up to 23 venomous cobras from a single house in Rupandehi, releasing them safely into the wild.
