A recent surge in snake killings sparked by fears of Russell's vipers in different parts of Bangladesh highlights a concerning trend with significant environmental implications.
As panic grips local communities, non-venomous snakes like the checkered keelback are falling victim to misinformation, raising alarms about the broader impact on biodiversity and ecosystem stability.
This underscores the urgent need for accurate education and conservation efforts to mitigate the unintended consequences of wildlife misconceptions.
Dozens of snakes killed in one Dhaka upazila
A nearly five-foot-long snake was slithering by the side of a canal when a passerby mistook it for a Russell's viper and screamed in fear. Hearing the screams, people nearby rushed over and beat the snake to death, also killing 23 baby snakes in the process.
Later, it became apparent that these were non-venomous checkered keelback snakes.
This incident occurred on Sunday in the Sanora Khalpar area of Sanora union, Dhamrai upazila, Dhaka.
In recent days, panic over Russell's vipers has resulted in the killing of more than 50 snakes in various parts of Dhamrai alone, suggesting that the nationwide figures are likely much higher.
Upon investigation, this correspondent found that most of the snakes killed were non-venomous, and the sightings of Russell's vipers were mere rumours.
Deadly rumours
On June 16, news spread on Facebook that locals in Jalsa village of Gangutia union, Dhamrai, had killed a Russell's viper.
During a visit to the area for verification it was found that no one could provide information about who had killed the snake. Saddam Hossain, a local UP member, said the snake had been killed in the western part of Jalsa village.
“After investigation, we found that it was not a Russell's viper."
Two days later, similar news spread on Facebook that a Russell's viper had been beaten to death in Goaldi village of Sombhag union. However, evidence supporting this information was not found in that area either.
Sombhag Union Parishad Chairman Md Awlad Hossain also said the presence of Russel’s viper had been a rumour.
Meanwhile, amid these reports, on June 20, in Kacha Rajapur village of Amta union, a woman named Tahiron Nesha, 65, died from a snake bite.
News spread that she had died from a Russell's viper’s bite, but Amta UP Chairman Arif Hossain said the species of the snake could not be confirmed.
Non-venomous snakes being killed
On Sunday, in the Sanora Khalpar area, it was found that the 23 snakes killed along with the mother snakes were non-venomous checkered keelbacks.
Similarly, in the Sharifbag area of Dhamrai union, a total of 29 non-venomous checkered keelback snakes, including a mother snake, were beaten to death due to rumours about Russell's vipers.
Additionally, in the Barbaria area of Gangutia union, a checkered keelback was killed because of similar rumours.
Moreover, in the Lakhuria Para area, locals killed a cobra.
M Monirul H Khan, associate professor of the Department of Zoology at Jahangirnagar University, said: "All snakes play a crucial role in their native ecosystem. Almost all snakes' main food is rats, so snakes play a role in controlling the rat population.”
“The misconceptions about Russell's vipers are greatly exaggerated. They may have increased in number slightly, but not as much as reports would suggest. They existed in the past and still do.
“Killing snakes in such a manner is not right. People need to be made aware of the importance of protecting snakes. Killing any animal is illegal and against the law. Government and private initiatives are needed to dispel the false information about Russell's vipers,” the expert added.
Need for monitoring
Some people have called for raising awareness to protect snakes as they help maintain biodiversity. The administration has in turn promised that awareness campaigns will be conducted to address this issue.
Md Imran Hossain, president of the Dhamrai chapter of Conscious Citizens' Society, said: "Every animal is important for maintaining the environmental balance, which will be disrupted if snakes are killed indiscriminately.”
He called on experts and relevant officials to take effective measures in order to raise public awareness.
Dhamrai Forest Officer Md Motaleb Al Momin said the Forest Department was taking steps to stop snake killings.
“The Upazila administration is leaving no stone unturned to stop snake killings. The snakes being killed are not venomous… it is checkered keelbacks that are being killed. This indiscriminate killing of snakes is creating a serious environmental risk.”
Motaleb claimed that Russell's vipers had not been spotted in Dhamrai or Ashulia. “If a Russell's viper is sighted, the rescue team of our Wildlife Crime Control Unit will go to the spot and rescue the snake if notified via its hotline. We have taken initiatives to make people aware so that they do not panic over snakes."
"The relevant department has taken effective measures in this regard. The upazila administration is also working on it," Dhamrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khan Md Abdullah Al Mamun said.