Echoing findings from various studies on climate change and biodiversity, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy raised a critical issue in the Lok Sabha on Monday regarding the rise in snakebite incidents and fatalities in India.
Rudy attributed this surge to climate change, noting that rising temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius are contributing to an increase in snakebite cases. India already has the highest rate of snakebite fatalities globally, with approximately 50,000 deaths and 3 to 4 million bites reported annually in the country.
This is for the first time that the issue of surge in snakebites linking with climate change was raised in Parliament, thus underscoring the need for urgent action in the matter.
The MP from Saran constituency in Bihar emphasized that many of these deaths could be avoided, particularly in Bihar, which suffers disproportionately due to its poverty and vulnerability to natural disasters.
According to government data, snakebites result in 2,000 deaths in the country but studies contravene these claims stating that only 7.23 per cent of snakebite deaths are officially reported. Studies, including one published in Lancet Planetary Health, suggest that climate change will alter snake habitats, pushing them into new areas and increasing the likelihood of encounters with humans.
This shift is expected to occur if greenhouse gas emissions remain unchecked, with venomous snakes potentially moving into new regions by 2070.
The World Health Organization (WHO) too has warned that climate change will exacerbate the problem by affecting snake distribution and behavior.
“As temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, human-snake interactions are predicted to become more common.” According to WHO, changes in farming practices and increased human migration will further heighten these interactions.
Globally, snakebites afflict about 5.4 million people each year, resulting in 81,410 to 137,880 deaths, along with numerous amputations and disabilities.
The study published in the Lancet Planetary Health which is co-authored by ecologist Pablo Ariel Martinez from the Federal University of Sergipe in Brazil predicts that savannas, grasslands, and deserts will see an influx of venomous snake species, while tropical rainforests will lose some. Notably, three viper species—Bitis rhinoceros, Vipera aspis, and Vipera ammodytes—are expected to expand into new habitats, particularly in areas undergoing agricultural expansion and experiencing warmer, drier conditions. Rural communities are particularly at risk as these new species encroach upon their environments.
Climate change induced extreme weather events such as floods can also worsen the problem. Research in Southeast Asia has shown that snakebite incidents increase during the monsoon season; this is because snakes and people both seek shelter away from floodwaters and become more likely to encounter each other. Hence, as climate change increases flooding, the risk of snakebite may rise even further.
Despite these threats to humans, the researchers asserted that venomous snakes are crucial parts of ecosystems as predators of animals such as rats and insects.
They also brought home the point that these venoms contain some compounds that have potential medical uses unrelated to snakebite, such as cytotoxins with anticancer potential or proteins that can be used in antihypertensive drugs.