PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
A rare species of white-lipped pit viper snake was spotted in the Himalayan Botanical Garden. Upon receiving information of its presence, a Forest department rescue team arrived and safely captured it. Later, it was released into a protected forest, away from residential areas.
The Forest officials said that while cleaning bushes in the Botanical Garden, the department’s employees had spotted this rare, venomous green snake
Proving further information about the snake, the forest beat officer, Arvind Kumar stated that the white-lipped pit viper is commonly found in the Himalayan regions and Southeast Asia. “This species of snake has been seen for the first time in the Botanical Garden. It is bright green and approximately two to three feet long. Its scientific name is Trimeresurus albolabris,” he said.
Sharing more, he said that a nocturnal creature, it primarily lives in trees and bushes. “Its head is small and it is identified by its scaling and white lips,” he added.
Asked about whether it is venomous, he answered in the affirmative and said that it has a hemotoxin, whose venom primarily affects the blood and tissues.
He appealed to the people that if they notice a snake anywhere, they should not try to catch or kill it but should immediately inform the Forest department.
