Venomous Russell’s viper found in Tikapur, Kailali

Dhangadhi: A highly venomous Russell’s Viper has been discovered in Kailali.

The snake was found in a field in Baidi, Tikapur Municipality-7. Local resident Bhojraj Dhungana reported that the snake was found dead after being crushed by a machine during rice harvesting. “Locals initially informed me that a python had been found, but upon inspection, it turned out to be a highly venomous Russell’s Viper,” he said.

Dhungana noted that these snakes have been regularly sighted in the area over the past three years. Last year, a Russell’s Viper was found under a bed while a person was sleeping; it was rescued in time and released safely. Similarly, two years ago, a snake was killed after being crushed by a machine in a rice field.

Laxman Upadhyay, a snake conservation and rescue worker from Tikapur, stated that Russell’s Vipers are commonly found in Kailali. He highlighted that a bite from this species can be fatal and emphasized the importance of timely rescue.

Upadhyay has rescued 628 snakes of various species in the Tikapur area this year alone, protecting locals from potential danger. Over the years, he has rescued a total of 3,553 snakes through his ongoing conservation efforts.