Snakes and Ladders

Welcome to My Wayward Musings.

We all know the game of snakes and ladders. Even as on today, it is probably the first board game introduced to children. As a child, I recollect being petrified to roll the dice, in the fear of being bitten by one of the pictorial-scary-slithering-creatures..

At a very young age, this simple game teaches us so much on life ahead. It teaches us to take a chance, a risk. It makes us understand that even though there would be many snakes in our life in the form of hurdles, there would also be enough ladders for us to get us out of them. It also teaches us that with every ladder that we climb up, there would be a new set of snakes. And in the midst of the new snakes too always look out for the ladder.

If we twist this, from a game to a reality. What if, we encounter an actual snake in front of us? Would we know where and how to look out for the ladder? 

This question might sound silly but on record over 58,000 people die out of snake bites in India every year. And many more get severely injured by organ failure or amputation of limbs.

Therefore it is extremely crucial for us to have a basic knowledge of our snakes. Simple awareness could help in saving lives.. This would not only benefit us but also help in saving the snakes who serve a critical role as predators, as preys, as ecosystem engineers, and provide economic and therapeutic benefits to us humans.

Two years back along with my family, I took a trip to Amboli Ghats. Late evening while I stepped out of the resort cottage for dinner following my son, I saw my son hop-jump pass a snake. For a moment I stood there watching the stone-still lying dark color snake, thinking that its probably dead. We informed the resort staff and they rescued it to the forest. Later, we learned, it was a very much alive, highly venomous, 'malabar pit viper' snake. By nature, they patiently wait in a stone still position for their prey to pass. They are known to strike suddenly at a distance of half of their body length on their preys and predators. The antidote for pit vipers are known to be rare and it's bite could lead to excruciatingly painful death. So my son's guardian angle saved his life that day.

This incident had an impact on me.  I realised, I need to have some knowledge on our elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles called snakes.

In this post I have tried to cover some of the basic, bare minimum points on the overall understanding and knowledge I have gained through books, groups, etc. on our crawly, not so friendly snakes. This would be a bit long but surely an informative read.

                                                                  

By snake habitats, we usually think of forests with moss-covered trees and gently decomposing leaf litter. Or desert sand dunes, shimmering in the sun, etched with serpentine markings. However, snakes are found in all manner of habitats, from the high mountains to the ocean, even in cities as large as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai. According to National Geographic, there are more than 3,000 species of snakes on the planet and they’re found everywhere except in Antarctica, Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, and New Zealand.

Snakes are shy creatures and do not react unless provoked or feel threaten. Most of the time, the venomous snakes inject dry bites just to scare us humans without causing any harm. Some are active in the day the others are nocturnal. All of them are carnivorous. Most of them are non-venomous, non poisonous, harmless. But the rest are no less than angels of death.

Therefore we have to be very careful and be watchful of our steps. Particularly, while we are on a trip close to nature, land and water both. 

Speaking of waters, all snakes are good swimmers. But some specifically enjoy their stay in vicinity of water bodies. Most sea snakes are highly venomous and most freshwater snakes are non venomous. 

Hook-nose sea snake
(Source: Shutterstock)

 Hook-nosed sea snake, common sea snake is a highly venomous seawater snake, found often on the beach. There is no anti-venom for it's venom yet. Seen often times in konkan belt, the Mumbai and Goa beaches included. 

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To begin with, lets understand the difference between venomous and poisonous. Most of the deadly snakes are venomous and not poisonous. Which means, in venomous snakes the venom is not in their whole body but just in their fang. While both venom and poison are toxins, a venom requires direct delivery, for instance subcutaneously through a snake bite, but can be ingested without harm. A poison can also be absorbed indirectly, e.g., by touch or through the digestive system, or delivered by the fang of a poisonous snake.

Redneck Keelback
(Source: indiansnake.org)

Redneck Keelback snakes are highly venomous and poisonous too. These snakes have salivary glands that secrete poison they ingest from eating poisonous toads. 

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Let me introduce you to the top four venomous snake species in our country responsible for causing the greatest number of medically significant bites cases. They are collectively referred to as the 'Big Four.' And anti-venoms are available for their venom.

 

1.) Russell's Viper

2.) Common Krait

3.) Indian Cobra

4.) Indian Saw-Scaled Viper.

 

1.) Russell's Viper

 

Russell's Viper
(Source: indiansnakes.org)

Indian Rock Python
(Source: inaturalist.org)

Adults of this beautiful designed snake are reported to be slow and sluggish unless pushed beyond a certain limit, after which they can become very aggressive and known to even jump high to attack!. 

They cause maximum deaths in the farms. Villagers many a times mistake them as Indian Rock Python(non-Venomous) and try to catch it with bare hands which sadly turns out fatal for them most times.  Most venomous snakes the percentage of dry-bites is relatively high but the Russell Viper always goes for the maximum venom dose. 

This snake is a 'ovoviviparous' which means it gives birth to young ones(hatches eggs inside its body)

 

2.) Common Krait.

Common Krait
(Source: snake-facts.weebly.com)

India’s most venomous and intriguing snake, the Common krait, also known as a silent killer, is notorious for his behavior. 

This nocturnal snake, climbs up into the homes, slides up inside the bedding at night and bites sleeping humans!!! Its also known to be having the most potent venom. It’s bite is mistaken for a simple bug or mosquito bite which adds in to the increase chance of fatality.

 

3.) Indian Cobra

 

Indian Cobra
(Source: animalia.bio)

The most popular one in our country, bollywood favourite - the Indian cobra is also known as the spectacled cobra, Asian cobra, or binocellate cobra. 

Within the cobra family in India, there are monocycled cobra(single ring on hood), caspian cobra(no rings on hood) and Andaman cobra.

And yes, guess by now we all know that the popular snake scenes from our 90s movies, wherein Amrish Puri(the snake charmer) plays the bean (flute) to irritate or call out to Sridevi- 'the snake' is fictional as snakes don't have outer ears, so they can mostly only feel the vibrations and not hear like the way we do.

 

4.) Saw-scaled Viper.

Sawscaled Viper
(Source: indian-animals.blogspot.com)

The elegantly designed saw-scaled vipers are highly aggressive. When threatened they wiggle in C-shaped coils, rubbing their scales together to produce a sizzling sound, like water on a hot plate. Sizzzzz...Scary right!

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There is one snake specie that do not fall under the big four but is definitely the most majestic of them all.

🎺🎺🥁🥁Make way for the King!!!

King Cobra 
(Source : Facebook post by Arshad Khan)

In the jungle we know the Lion being called the King of all animals. Among the snakes its the King Cobra.

Its the longest venomous snake in the world, measuring to almost 19 feet! Its an intelligent snake too. Only one which builds its own nest. Yes!

The King can literally rise-up 6 feet of its body and look a full-grown person in the eye. When confronted, they can lift up to a third of its body off the ground and still move forward in speed to attack. Guess that’s enough for any human to freeze in shock. 

Fortunately, they are shy creatures and will avoid humans whenever possible. They relish in every other snake as their snack. They inject high dose (in quantity) venom when left with no choice.

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An interesting fact:

Male Combat

Male Combat of Rat Snakes
Source: Facebook 

Mistaken as mating or courtship display of male and female snake, this is 'male combat', wherein two male snakes have a fight for territory or a female snake. Two years back male combat of rat snakes took place in the society where I live. The ignorant rescuer felt they are mating and took as his utmost duty to not separate the love birds....Oops... love snakes. Thankfully one of two guys managed to escape, else the men would have continued their fight for the area and a bride from the new area.

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Most snakes are shy creatures and would always prefer being away from us humans  But we need stay alert when walking in greens or undeveloped land. Also if we happen to drive during the night on the ghats or some forest area, we have be considerate and careful to avoid driving over them.

If we see a snake, we should not disturb it and let it pass.

If found in residential area, we need to call a snake rescuer. 

On a rare, unfortunate instance, if experienced a snake bite, we should try to see and remember the colour and shape of the snake.  Right description would help in timely and right treatment. We need to stay calm and try not to move. If possible try washing the area of the bite with warm, soapy water. Until help arrives or we reach the hospital, we have to keep the bite below heart level. Do not try to suck the wound like shown in movies. If alone, after calling for medical help, it would be sensible if we could mark the bite area and write the time next to it.

To conclude, in the real life of Snake n Ladders, snake awareness and our rescuer friends are our crucial ladders. Snake awareness would play a pivotal role in bringing down the rate of snakebites and mortality. It would clear the myths, furthermore eliminate the ignorance going on for generations and help in understanding how snakes are important for the ecosystem.

Thank you for your time.

Sharon.