Deadly viper 'springs' from unlikely source in surreal encounter

An Indian Forest Service officer explained that the Russel's viper emerged from the shell of a large turtle on the coast.

An Indian Forest Service officer on Sunday shared footage of his recent encounter with a highly venomous snake that emerged from an unlikely source.

“After years of walking along the coast, for the first time I came across this deadly snake yesterday at Rushikulya,” Nanda explained Sunday via X. “Initially, when it sprang out of the dead turtle, I thought it was a sea snake, [but it] turned out to be a Russell’s viper.”

Russel’s vipers are among the most dangerous snakes on the Indian subcontinent, accounting for thousands of fatalities each year.

Nature never stops to surprise us
After years of walking along the coast, for the first time I came across this deadly snake yesterday at Rushukulya.Initially, when it sprang out of the dead turtle, I thought it was a sea snake, turned out to be a Russell’s viper. pic.twitter.com/LcDsje60BL

— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) February 25, 2024

Bite victims experience a range of symptoms, from pain and swelling to vomiting and kidney failure.

Nanda did not share details but the Rushikulya river mouth is a mass nesting site for olive ridley turtles in February and early March.

It was unclear if the Russel’s viper was scavenging on the dead turtle before it emerged into the camera light.

Russel’s vipers prey predominantly on rodents, which can place them in close proximity to farmers and ranchers.