Big four snakes of India can be seen at BDU

All snakes are not venomous and it attack human unless until it is disturbed or irritated. Most of our students and workers of our University kill the snakes even they are non-venomous due their ignorance and lack of awareness in identifying venomous and non-venomous snakes. The four important venomous snakes responsible for causing most deaths due to snake bites are given here with the photos taken by Gladwin John of our team. Kindly contact us for rescue of any snakes, so that we can avoid killing it.  

Common name: Indian Cobra

Tamil name: நாகப் பாம்பு

Binomial name: Naja naja

Photo shot at: Lawn opposite to SBI, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John

Venom: Mainly Neurotoxic, blood and cell destroyer

Common name: Common Krait

Tamil name: கட்டு விரியன்

Binomial name: Bangarus caeruleus

Photo shot at: Near the gallery in playground, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John 

Venom: Neurotoxic , haemotoxic

Common name: Russell’s Viper

Tamil name: கண்ணாடி விரியன்

Binomial name: Daboia russelii

Photo shot at: Close to Elephant statue, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John  

Venom: Cytotoxic

Common name: Saw Scaled Viper

Tamil Name: சுருட்டை விரியன்

Binomial name: Echis carinatus

Photo shot at: Near Elephant statue, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John  

Venom: Cytotoxic, anticoagulant

All the big four snakes are found in our university campus. The most common of these is the Saw Scaled viper. It is mostly sighted during late nights on the shallow drains banking the road, near the Elephant statue at BDU. Kraits are occasionally encountered near men’s hostel, where they get killed! The common Cobra is sighted all over the campus. Russell’s vipers rarely put a show off.

For more information on snakes and rescue contact

       Gladwin John: 08056400796

Suvaithenamudhan: 09994336007

                        B. S. Karthikeyan: 09994226756