Bagaha/Patna: Deep within the dense wilderness of Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), nestled in the West Champaran district, lies a thriving and largely unknown world of snakes—some among the rarest and deadliest on the planet. While snakes are found across the state’s districts, VTR has emerged as a hotspot of herpetological biodiversity, with over 45 documented species slithering through its terrain.
Among the most fascinating residents are rare and little-known snakes such as the Van Sundari, Coral Red Kukri, Twin-Spotted Wolf Snake, Mock Viper, Salazar Pit Viper, and the elusive Long-Snouted Vine Snake—first discovered in this very reserve and later reported only in Meghalaya. Experts say VTR offers an ecological niche unlike any other in Bihar, supporting species that are both evolutionarily distinct and ecologically critical.
India’s longest venomous snake, the King Cobra, also calls VTR home. Measuring up to 18 feet in length, the King Cobra is a predator of other snakes and can release up to 20 millilitres of potent neurotoxic venom in a single bite. “Unlike most snakes that prefer ground burrows, the King Cobra seeks out high nests,” said wildlife researcher Abhishek, who has been studying Bihar’s fauna for over two decades.
Valmiki is also home to the widely feared Spectacled Cobra, locally known as Gehunvan. This snake is particularly dangerous due to its high frequency of contact with humans and its neurotoxic venom, which can kill an adult in under 40 minutes without medical intervention. The Spectacled Cobra is among the four most deadly snakes in India, a list that also includes the Common Krait, Russell’s Viper, and the Saw-Scaled Viper.
The Common Krait, often found in and around human settlements, poses a uniquely insidious threat. Its bite is nearly painless, its fangs so fine that victims often remain unaware they’ve been struck—many die silently in their sleep. Equipped with powerful neurotoxins, the krait is particularly dangerous due to the difficulty in detecting its presence or the bite itself.
Equally terrifying is the Russell’s Viper, known locally as Suskar. Unlike the krait, its bite is instantly excruciating. The hemotoxin in its venom causes rapid clotting and tissue necrosis, leading to internal bleeding and death—often within half an hour. Resembling a small python, this snake is responsible for a significant number of fatalities in rural Bihar each year.
While much attention is given to India’s tigers and elephants, conservationists argue that lesser-known species like these snakes deserve equal concern. Non-venomous species such as the Rat Snake, Checkered Keelback, Bronze-Back Tree Snake, and various species of Boas and Pythons also form an essential part of Bihar’s ecological fabric, aiding in rodent control and maintaining food chain balance.
With continued encroachment on natural habitats and limited awareness of these reptiles’ ecological roles, the snakes of Valmiki Tiger Reserve face a precarious future. “Conservation doesn’t end with big cats,” says Abhishek. “It starts with recognising the silent, slithering species that have kept these forests balanced for millennia.”
