The Elephants of Interview Island

Report from survey work on elephants living on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal, June, 1977

Bibliography of the King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah)

The SHIS series publishes and distributes translations, bibliographies, indices, and similar items judged useful to individuals interested in the biology of amphibians and reptiles, but unlikely to be published in the normal technical journals. Single copies are distributed free to interested individuals. Libraries, herpetological associations, and research laboratories are invited to exchange their publications with the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles

Snakebite Mortality in India: A Nationally Representative Mortality Survey

Earlier hospital based reports estimate about 1,300 to 50,000 annual deaths from snakebites per year in India. Here, we present the first ever direct estimates from a national mortality survey of 1.1 million homes in 2001–03. Full-time, non-medical field workers interviewed living respondents about all deaths. The underlying causes were independently coded by two of 130 trained physicians. The study found 562 deaths (0.47% of total deaths) were assigned to snakebites, mostly in rural areas, and more commonly among males than females and peaking at ages 15–29. Snakebites also occurred more often during the rainy monsoon season. This proportion represents about 45,900 annual snakebite deaths nationally (99% CI 40,900 to 50,900) or an annual age-standardised rate of 4.1/100,000 (99% CI 3.6–4.5), with higher rates in rural areas (5.4) and with the highest rate in the state of Andhra Pradesh (6.2). Annual snakebite deaths were greatest in the states of Uttar Pradesh (8,700), Andhra Pradesh (5,200), and Bihar (4,500). Thus, snakebite remains an underestimated cause of accidental death in modern India, causing about one death for every two HIV-related deaths. Because a large proportion of global totals of snakebites arise from India, global snakebite totals might also be underestimated. Effective interventions involving education and antivenom provision would reduce snakebite deaths in India

RSTMH Special Report on Snakebite

To mark International Snakebite Awareness Day on Thursday 19 September, RSTMH is publishing a report on community groups from around the world who are currently leading the fight against snakebites locally, as well as hosting a day of events at the European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International, which we are hosting in Liverpoo

The Hatching of Snake Eggs

Volume: 66Start Page: 387End Page: 38

Breeding of Tokay Gecko Gekko gecko

Volume: 75Start Page: 499End Page: 49

Occurrence of the Pit viper Trimeresurus Malabaricus (Jerdon) on the Ghodbunder Road (Thana Dist.) with Some Notes on Their Habits

Volume: 66Start Page: 183End Page: 18