Kathmandu: Climate experts have set alarm bells ringing after the recent capture of venomous snakes – including King Cobras – close to Mt Everest in Nepal. The experts say that the discovery of these snakes at such a cold and dry location, could mean that temperatures are rising at a much higher rate than anticipated.
Over the last month, ten venomous snakes – including nine King Cobras – were found in and around Kathmandu in Nepal. The other snake caught was a Monocled Cobra. All were later released in remote, densely forested areas.
What is even more startling is the discovery of eggs and nests of such snakes in those cold climes, indicating that the reptiles are fast adapting to their new environment.
It has already been published that temperatures are rising at a much faster rate in Nepal as compared to the rest of the world. While climate change is pushing up temperatures at an average rate of 0.03 degrees Celsius per annum globally, Nepal has recorded an annual rise of 0.05 degrees Celsius.
Such highly poisonous snakes are normally found in hoy, humid places like swamps, rice fields and forests. Some of the locations where these snakes are now being found are barely 160 km from Mt Everest, a thing unheard of in the past. Most importantly, these snakes are being caught inside homes.
“While it is possible that such snakes arrived, hidden in trucks carrying logs from the plains, there is no reason for them to have survived in that climate, had adaptability not been a factor. The snakes are clearly finding it quite comfortable there due to the annual rise in temperature,” an expert said.
The residential area where these snakes were found are Bhanjyang, Gupteshwar, Sokhol and Phoolchowk. While King Cobras are the largest venomous snakes in the world, the Monocled Cobras are as deadly.
Southern Nepal has a large population of venomous snakes. As many as 2,700 people – mostly women and children – die there every year due to snakebite, despite of import of anti-snake venom vaccines from India.
Experts now believe that a recalibration of the of the situation may be required after the discovery of these snakes around Kathmandu.
