Snakebites a major public health concern in Assam

Snakebite is still a serious public health hazard in Assam and the lack of awareness regarding timely medical intervention and proper first-aid measures often ends up causing fatalities. Experts stressed the alarming numbers on Tuesday, indicating the necessity for broad strategies to combat the problem.

Assam, for example, has around 35,000 cases of snakebite every year, according to Dr. Surajit Giri, who works on snakebite treatment there. According to Sonali Ghosh, Director, Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR), government data for 2024 — which ended October 2023 — had shown around 11,000 snakebite cases and 36 deaths. These numbers highlight the magnitude of the issue, and the crucial need for effective and timely medical care.

In addition, with its diverse ecology, comprising an array of snake species including the King Cobra (Roja Feti), Monocled Cobra (Chokori Feti), Banded Krait (Goala Sap) and different pit viper snakes, Assam has a higher footfall of human-snake encounters. The state, especially during the rainy season between June and September, faces a particular challenge when the increasing levels of floodwaters force snakes to enter human habitats to find shelter resulting into a jump in snakebites.

Training Workshop for Capacity Development: A Step Towards Mitigation

To curb this crisis, a two-day Workshop on Ethical Snake Rescue and Snake Bite Prevention was conducted on January 27-28, 2023 in Kohora Convention Centre, KNPTR. The event, which was organized by the Assam Forest Department in association with Help Earth, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT) and the Zoological Society of Assam was attended by 43 nature lovers and forest officials in eight districts – Kaziranga, Nagaon, Biswanath, Sivasagar, Golaghat, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.

This initiative is a major push towards building a strong, knowledgeable network of nature lovers and frontline forest staff in Assam, stated by Sonali Ghosh, Director, TWS-SES. The intent of the workshop was to sensitize the participants about safe handling of snake rescues, first-aid for snakebites and engage community for reducing human-snake conflict.

Training and Hands-On Demonstrations

Gnaneswar Ch, Project Leader for Snakebite Mitigation, MCBT and the Centre for Herpetology, was the core Resource Person for the Workshop. He would conduct extensive workshops on advanced techniques of safe handling of snakes during rescue, improvisational first-aid for snakebites, the ethics of community engagement in regards to conservation and rehabilitative techniques.

The workshops included interactive sessions and hands-on demonstrations giving participants the opportunity to practice safe methods of snake rescue and enjoy multimedia approach to snakebite response. A key component of the program has been the provision of snake rescue kits, so that trained rescuers are properly equipped to do their work.

The Role of Community Engagement in Conservation

Community engagement is crucial to reducing snakebite cases, according to Ghosh. “This workshop was a huge success and was and is another step in the right direction in the broader commitment to reduce snakebite mortality, conserve the environment and promote human-snake coexistence,” she added. The program said that communities needed to be educated about the ecological significance of snakes and how to live in harmony with them.

Snakebites a major health concern in Assam.https://t.co/0JX8Q9qfuU

— The Hindu (@the_hindu) January 29, 2025

The organisers were hopeful that such capacity-building initiatives would enable local rescuers and personnel working in forests to better respond to snake-related issues. With some more training, awareness and cooperation, Assam can take steps in the direction of a future where snakes and humans can co-exist peacefully with each other!

Future Prospects

The workshop is a part of a larger endeavour to tackle the snakebite crisis in Assam. This training is expected to be expanded to cover more districts and communities, and educational materials aimed at increasing awareness of snakebite prevention and first-aid measures will be developed and disseminated in the future.

Dr. Giridhara Babu stressed the need to strengthen medical infrastructure and make sure antivenom is accessible in rural areas. “Timely medical intervention is crucial,” he said, “and we need to strengthen our healthcare systems to save more lives.”

Conclusion

This capacity building workshop in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve is an important stride to confront the snakebite crisis in Assam. This project will help reduce snakebite deaths, as well as promote conservation and foster a peaceful interaction between humans and snakes by upskilling and educating nature lovers and forest officials. As we move forward, sustained initiatives and partnerships will be crucial to realize these objectives and secure a healthier future for all citizens of Assam.

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