Among several misconceptions, the most common one is that every snake is venomous and can kill a person. In reality, the vast majority of the world’s approximately 4,000 snake species are either non-venomous or possess venom which poses little threat to humans. As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Health Organization (WHO), only a relatively small number of species are medically significant.
This means if you spot a snake during a jungle trek or national park safari, it doesn’t always mean a dangerous situation. In fact, snakes avoid humans altogether.
Whether you’re visiting Karnataka’s famous national park, or rainforests in Sri Lanka or the Amazon Basin, guides often remind visitors that snakes are much more interested in escaping and rarely attack.
It’s advisable to admire the beauty of a snake from a respectful distance and avoid blocking its escape route.
(Canva)
