A Russell's viper has been seen in Kalapara, Patuakhali. The five-foot snake was caught in a net in the yard of a man named Nur Islam in Baultali village of Dhulasar union on Monday (24 June) morning.

Hearing the snake, Nur Islam tried to catch it by hand, but at his wife's urging he instead struck it with a stick, crushing its head. He then kept it in a plastic container and showed it to several local young men.

When locals showed it to members of the snake rescue team Animal Lovers of Patuakhali, Kalapara team, they confirmed it was a Russell's viper. On hearing this, local people crowded in to take a look.

A local volunteer named Imam Hasan Himel said he came to the spot on hearing the news. With the help of Animal Lovers they learned it was a venomous Russell's viper, and they then told locals to be careful. It is being preserved for now, he said.

Bayezid Munshi, a member of the Kalapara team of Animal Lovers of Patuakhali, said they had confirmed it was a Russell's viper from photos and by talking to people in various places. It is no longer alive, he said, but a snake's body keeps moving for a long time after death, so locals think it is still alive. Members of the team are now heading to the spot.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.