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Poisonous Snakes in Kazakhstan
By Dr. Galina Poddubnaya. E-mail: GalinaPoddn@nursat.kz
Snakes are not something to be feared but rather creatures to be respected as a fascinating product of Mother Nature. They are skillful and streamlined hunters who play an important role in the local ecosystem by eating insects, rodents (which are, in fact, carriers of infectious diseases), rats, and other small prey.
This text intends to briefly acquaint the reader with poisonous snakes in Kazakhstan and to give some precautions and useful practical advice.
The information below should be especially noted by those who enjoy camping, hiking, and picnicking as most snake bites happen outdoors.
Kazakhstan is home to three types of poisonous snakes belonging to two different species: Viperidae (1.Viper/adder berus - photo 1) found in the north of Kazakhstan; (2.Viper/adder ursine - photo 2) found throughout Kazakhstan in areas with varying density of population; and Crotalidae (3. Agkistrodon halys-photos 3,4,5). The last type is in near relation to American’s rattlesnakes and can be encountered throughout Kazakhstan.
All over the world (including Kazakhstan), the Viperidaes have a triangular-shaped head with a zigzag-like pattern along the vertebral column and vary in color from light gray and green to brown. The Agkistrodons are wide-bodied snakes, and due to their greater size can be more dangerous than the Vipera berus or Vipera ursini. The Agkistrodons can be reddish, greenish, brownish, or even entirely black in color. They have dark gray or black cross band on each side and a different structure of the head compared to vipers. The snakes in Kazakhstan are relatively small in size (from 60 cm up to 1 meter). All the above snake types are venomous from birth.
Regardless of a snake type (Vipers or Agkistrodons) a bitten human has quite the same symptoms: strong pain in the place of the bite, which in several minutes spreads to regional lymphatic glands/nodes; dizziness/vertigo; double vision; sickness/nausea and vomiting; rapidly increasing edema and swelling; bruising (extravasations) and coagulation disturbances. In some cases, blisters may evolve with hemorrhagic contents in the place of the bite.
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According to official statistics, no one has died in Kazakhstan after a snake bite during the last 10-15 years. Nevertheless, any snakebite should be considered dangerous and the victim should seek immediate medical care from professional doctors. In Almaty, there is Toxicology Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (analogue to the Poison Center in the US), where one can apply for qualified medical help. Professional medical advice for actions after the bite can be obtained at +(3272) 92 70 55; 62 84 94; Fax: +(3272) 62 49 98 or by e-mail: emedhosp@netmail.kz
How to avoid being injured by a snake?
· Never pursue a snake! Investigations show that people themselves provoke 50-80% of all snakebites by trying to kill or disturb a snake
· Be especially careful at summer nights when snakes are most active
· When walking in the countryside, do not put your feet or hands in stone crevices
· Do not pick up stones, old trees, sawdust or dry grass
· Avoid high grass. Get a long stick to check the path in the grass ahead of you
· Watching where you step and wearing boots in tall grass can prevent most snakebites. Snake will definitely bite if stepped on, or if it feels like trapped. A snake can not bite through boots - the fangs of venomous snakes, though long and sharp, are relatively fragile, and are easily deflected or broken
· Use an electric torch at night
· Never take even a dead snake in your hands: reflex actions may cause bites up to one hour after a snake has died, even after decapitation.
It is known that snake’s poison is used for various medical purposes. Such ointments as Viprosal and Viprotox used to cure back pain are quite popular. Recently a new generation of thrombolysis medications have been made from serpent’s venom. They can be applied to cure myocardial infarction (heart attack) and thromboembolism (the pulmonary artery for instance) with the same effect as such long use medications as Streptokinase, Urokinase and Actilyse (Alteptase, activator the human plasminogen).
Please note that there are a lot of very useful non-poisonous snakes in Kazakhstan. So, not every snake that you find here should be considered as poisonous.
To learn about first aid for snake bites as well as about all poisonous creatures (snakes and spiders) in Kazakhstan and Central Asia in detail, please visit my web-site http://www.snspkz.lorton.com . It was made in collaboration with the Institute of Biology, the Academy of Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Reptile Section of the Almaty Zoo.
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