Human Expansion Fuels Deadly Snake Encounters in India; Conservationists Intensify Efforts

• Human expansion in India's Western Ghats is increasing encounters with deadly snakes, particularly king cobras.
• Agumbe Rainforest Research Station (ARRS) in Karnataka leads daily rescue operations, research, and community outreach to manage human-snake conflict.
• King cobras, India's longest venomous snakes, are rescued and released, with some tagged for tracking movement and habitat use.
• Snakebites cause 40,000-60,000 deaths annually in India; king cobras lack specific antivenom, highlighting the urgency of coexistence efforts.
• ARRS emphasizes education on safe practices and aims for coexistence, as urban expansion makes encounters more frequent.

Why It Matters: Human expansion drives snake encounters; conservation efforts are crucial for coexistence and reducing snakebite fatalities.