Russell’s Viper. Among all the poisonous snakes in the country, its venom is the most terrible. Pours the maximum amount during the bite. Originally it was known as the snake of Barendra region but now the fear of the snake has spread all over the country. However, only a decade ago, the name of Russell’s Viper was not heard much. It was thought to be extinct. Experts say that the range of snakes has not only increased in the last few years; Adaptability is also increased. As a result, the snake is now frequently seen in areas where people have never heard of Russell’s viper. Inadequacy of suitable anti-venom has multiplied the panic level.

It is reported that the antivenom available in the country is used only after four types of snake bites. It does not work as well on Russell’s viper bites. Russel’s viper venom has been researched but has not been successful so far. No private pharmaceutical company in the country has made anti-venom. Only Incepta imports limited quantities of antivenom from India as per order. In this situation, Russels was bitten by viper and had to accept death due to lack of treatment. Even if you somehow survive, long-term damage to the lungs and kidneys.

Experts say that now the breeding season of snakes is going on, so it is showing more. But Russell’s viper has a lot of adaptability. Professor Farid Ahsan of Chittagong University’s Department of Zoology is doing research on ‘Re-emergence of Russell’s viper and its risk to humans’. He said Russell’s viper has no specific breeding season; Can propagate at any time of the year. However, the snake’s reproduction rate is highest for the next three months from May. Moreover, the snake gives birth without hatching the eggs. As a result, propagation is also faster. This venomous snake can move easily on land and water. So during the rainy season, it can float to a great distance along with the kachuripana and migrate itself.

Not only Bangladesh, this terrible Russell’s viper is spread in India, Bhutan, Thailand, Cambodia, China and Myanmar. This snake usually lives in grass, bushes, forests, mangroves and crop fields. Depletion of forest area is also a major reason for their appearance in the locality.

Reptile expert Sohel Rana of Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Center in Gazipur said Russell’s viper was known as the snake of Barendra region. It is basically a dry land snake. During the paddy season, the movement of these snakes to eat rats in the crop fields of Barendra region was high. Now in these areas crops are being harvested at other times of the year. As a result, rats are increasing; Russel’s Viper is also growing in tandem.

Sohel Rana said, Russell’s Viper’s ability to adapt to nature has also increased. As a result, it is able to float downstream from dry areas with any floating matter such as debris. Although its numbers have increased mainly along the Padma basin, Russell’s viper is now found in many districts of the southern region. This snake has also been seen in Hatia, Bhola.

Real proof of the statement of the experts, apart from the north-western region of the country, the snake is also seen in the eastern and other regions. Among them, the most panic is spreading in the Padma basin. At least five people have lost their lives due to snake bites in Manikganj alone in the last three months. Many farmers in Pabna, Kushtia, Natore, Naogaon and Meherpur have stopped working in the crop fields due to fear of Russell’s viper. Rajshahi Medical College Hospital is the only hope of the people of this vast region if they are bitten by snakes. It takes two to two and a half hours to go there from these districts. According to doctors, anti-venom should be taken within 100 minutes of snake bite, i.e. 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Shakinur Rahman Sabbir, a student of Rajshahi University, was recently bitten by a Russell’s viper but could not be saved despite timely treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that antivenoms prepared from local snakes are most effective in treating snakebite patients. Because, the nature and type of snakes in each country is different. Only 20 percent of the venom collected from snakes in India matches that of Bangladesh. But year after year, snakebite patients in Bangladesh are being treated with antivenom made in India.

Meanwhile, in order to reduce death due to snake bites, under the non-communicable disease control program of the Department of Health, research is going on in Chittagong Medical College to prepare anti-venom from the venom of snakes roaming in the country.

Dr. Venom Research Center researcher. Abdullah Abu Saeed said, ‘The main goal of our Venom Research Center is to collect venomous snakes. Then raising them and collecting poison. At present the work of collecting snake venom is going on. 11 species of snake venom have been collected in our country. However, it is not possible to make anti-venom quickly. Its process is very long. Now many types of experiments on this venom are going on. Again, many tests of this stage are not conducted in our country. Recently, some of the venom was sent to a lab in Spain in collaboration with the WHO. We need to identify the nature of the venom.’

Professor Farid Ahsan said, the snake was in Bangladesh even in the eighties. However, people’s knowledge was less because there was no research at that time. Now the people in the grasslands or on the banks of the river should be more careful.