Wildlife conflict: Snakes lead in killing humans

KOCHI: Snakes are the leading cause of human death due to wildlife conflict in Kerala. According to the Forest Department, 1,158 people died due to snakebite from 2011 to 2025. Elephants and wild boars are in second and third place, respectively. The death toll is as follows: Elephant- 290, wild boar- 69, tiger- 12, gaur- 17, and others- 17.

The Forest Department is on a mission to completely eliminate snakebite deaths within five years. The 'SARPA Mission' app has been very beneficial. SARPA helps the public to alert others if they see snakes and helps authorised persons to catch them. Half a lakh snakes have been caught and released in the wild under the project. SARPA was implemented in 2019 when 123 people died due to snakebites. 34 people died due to snakebites in 2024-25, and six people have died by August 2025.

SARPA Future Missions

• Domestically manufacture snake venom antidote and make it available in all hospitals
• Awareness by including snake lessons in schools
• Completely eliminate deaths due to snakebite

Deaths as follows

Year------------Snake-- Elephant-- Wild boar-- Tiger-- Gaur -- Others-- Total

2021-22----------65----------35------------6----------1--------3--------3--------113

2022-23----------48----------27------------7----------1--------1--------5---------89

2023-24----------34----------22-----------11----------1--------4--------4---------76

2024-25----------34----------19-----------11----------1--------1--------1---------67

2025-26-----------6----------10------------3-----------1--------0---------0--------26