TIMES OF INDIA (New Delhi) 21 December 13 Russell's Viper snake caught from behind church in Chowk Bazaar

Surat: A fully grown Russell's Viper was caught by volunteers of NGO Prayas from the CNI Christ Church compound in Chowk Bazaar here on Friday.

Ruby Patel, a resident living in the church compound, who spotted the snake, immediately alerted the Prayas volunteers.

Patel said, "I was doing my daily chores when I spotted a big snake in my garden. It moved with a lightning speed and hid somewhere in the garbage. I immediately informed Prayas NGO about the snake."

Many Russell's Vipers have been caught by the animal and bird rescue organization from the walled city areas like Chowk Bazaar, Gandhi Garden and Raja Ovara in the recent past.

Darshan Desai of Prayas told TOI, "The lady, who could not identify this highly poisonous snake, actually informed us saying that a python was spotted in her garden area. We immediately deployed our volunteer at the spot and the snake was caught and identified as Russell's Viper. It was around 2.5 foot long."

Desai said unlike the python, the Russell's Viper's head is flat, triangular and distinct from the neck. The Russell's Viper is blamed for 35 per cent snakebite cases in India each year. The species is chiefly a rat eater.

"Our volunteers also found a dead rat where the Russell Viper was hiding. It is believed that the Viper may have bitten the prey and later chased it in the garden," said Desai.
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