New research records 8 more species of snakes in Delhi

The study recorded a total of 329 snakes in 23 species and nine families.

New Delhi: Eight more species have been added to the national capital’s list of snakes after an extensive five-year study conducted by researchers from the Delhi University.

This has taken the number of snake species recorded in the capital to 23, updating the 1997 list mentioned in the book Fauna of Delhi that is widely used to track Delhi’s native species, according to Gaurav Barhadiya, a researcher from the Department of Environmental Studies, Delhi University, who conducted the study.

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The study recorded a total of 329 snakes in 23 species and nine families. The new additions are – common bronzeback tree snake, common trinket snake, common cat snake, barred wolf snake, common kukri, streaked kukri, common sandboa and saw-scaled viper.

The research, published in the American Journal Reptiles and Amphibians, covered all eleven districts of Delhi, between January 2016 and October 2020, through 376 field surveys in various urban forests, parks, private gardens, farms, vacant plots, lakes, and water bodies.

The findings were revealed last month. Data collection techniques included pitfall traps, opportunistic encounters, nocturnal road cruising, and road kills encounters. Secondary information on snake rescue has also been taken from NGOs like the Wildlife Trust of India and Fauna Foundation of India.

Most snakes encountered were non-venomous and are harmless and thus, people should not be afraid and kill them on the spot.

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