Climate change can drive more snakebite hotspots, as conditions conducive for venomous species shift and spread into India’s northern and northeastern regions. This can potentially increase the risk of snakebites in areas that were so far considered unsuitable for such species.
The study, published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, involves researchers from various fields and universities. Researchers from the Dibru-Saikhowa Conservation Society, Assam Agricultural University, and Pukyong National University in South Korea have concluded that Haryana, Rajasthan, and Assam might see a rise in the number of the “big four” snakes, even though these regions were previously not known habitats for venomous snakes. The shift in their habitat is attributed to conditions driven by climate change, such as rising heat and humidity. The researchers mapped the current and future geographic spread of the big four snakes under several potential climate scenarios. Socioeconomic and public health data were also used to develop a snakebite risk index for Indian districts and states over the next 50 years.
“The risk index identified several southern Indian states and districts such as Karnataka (including Chikkaballapura, Haveri, and Chitradurga) and Gujarat (Devbhoomi Dwarka and Jamnagar) as having high vulnerability to snakebites,” the authors of the research paper stated.
“Additionally, under climate change scenarios, many northern and northeastern states and districts—including Assam (Nagaon, Morigaon, and Golaghat), Manipur (Tengnoupal), and Rajasthan (Pratapgarh)—are expected to face increased risk of snakebites, presenting a significant public health concern in these regions,” the researchers further noted.
The study combined climate patterns and species distribution with socioeconomic vulnerability and healthcare capacity of different regions. The analysis shows that climate change is not just an environmental crisis, but also an emerging public health crisis.
Northeast Becomes More Vulnerable
If the warming of the Earth continues, northeastern states like Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh may see a notable increase—over 100%—in the presence of venomous snakes. These areas were previously considered unsuitable habitats for such species.
The “big four” refers to four species of venomous snakes: the common krait, Russell’s viper, saw-scaled viper, and Indian cobra. These snakes are responsible for the majority of snakebite cases among humans in the Indian subcontinent.
The increase in human-snake interactions in both rural and urban areas presents a new challenge for public health and medical management. Therefore, local governments and the international community must intensify their efforts to counter climate change and protect vulnerable regions from a potential snakebite epidemic.