Wildlife

Snakebite Welfare and Antivenom Access

Snakebite kills approximately 100,000 people annually and injures millions more, while millions of snakes are killed in retaliatory persecution that causes additional animal welfare harm.

Key Facts

Snakebite is a neglected tropical disease disproportionately affecting the rural poor in Asia and Africa
Effective antivenom exists for most medically important snake species but access is severely limited
Snakes killed in retaliation for bites often include non-venomous species due to misidentification
Snakebite first aid has evolved significantly — cutting and sucking wounds is now known to worsen outcomes

Welfare Considerations

The welfare dimensions of snakebite affect both humans and snakes. Humans experiencing envenomation suffer severe pain, tissue necrosis, and potentially death. Snakes killed in retaliation suffer painful deaths while rarely being the species responsible. Addressing snakebite requires antivenom access improvement, education, and protection of snakes from retaliatory killing.

What You Can Do

Support the Global Snakebite Initiative working on antivenom access in high-burden countries
Never kill snakes — observe from a safe distance and move away calmly
Learn basic snakebite first aid for your region and share this knowledge
Support herpetological organizations working on snakebite prevention education in rural communities
Advocate for snakebite to be prioritized as a neglected tropical disease in global health funding