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Snakes are an important part of Nepali religion and culture. The Hindus of southern Nepal associate Nag, the king of snakes, with the provision of adequate rain for their crops. In mid-monsoon (July/August) Nepalis celebrate Nagpanchami, the snake festival in which certain devotions are performed, and offerings of milk and money made, not just to assure the monsoon but also to avoid snakebite. Snakebite is a constant fear for the farmers of Nepal, particularly during the monsoon when the rains flood the reptiles' dens and force the snakes to find refuge - often in the farmers' rice fields or even their homes!

To date, seventy-seven species of snakes have been identified in Nepal, twenty-one of them venomous. Three species of cobras, five species of kraits, as well as coral snakes, all with powerful neurotoxins, are the common snakes of the family elapidae, while twelve species of vipers and pit vipers represent the family viperidae. Because of the tropical climate and rural nature of much of southern Nepal, snakebite is very common. WHO has estimated that there are over 20,000 snakebites each year in Nepal, one thousand of them fatal. Unfortunately, transportation and medical facilities are grossly inadequate. Most victims of snakebite seek assistance first from faith healers and death frequently occurs before the victim is brought to a hospital. For more information on snakes and snakebite in Nepal, see Snakes and Snake Bite in Nepal, an article by Sanjib K Sharma, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.

Snakebite is a major but neglected public health problem in southern Nepal. Insufficient studies have been conducted to date. Two recent ANMF projects have been targeted toward snakebite: Snakebite Management and Snakebite First Aid Training. This new project will develop, publish and distribute simple educational materials directed at recognizing venomous snakes and how to avoid them, first aid in case of snakebite and how and when to convey victims to the nearest facilities prepared to treat snakebite effectively. Booklets and posters will be provided to farmers' groups, women's groups, schools and other public facilities in Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts in southern Nepal.

For more information about this project, see Snakebite Prevention or contact ANMF.

See the latest report from Association for Nature Conservation and Social Upliftment.

*Images of snakes are from Wikipedia.