POISONOUS SNAKES

There are approximately 450 species of snakes in Indonesia. Only five or so are considered dangerously poisonous and found around Jakarta like any wild animal, the snake will usually try to escape before it will attack. They can usually be depended on to bite if they are stepped on. Most are nocturnal and can be avoided by not walking barefoot at night in dark, swampy, bushy areas. Keeping one's garden clear of thick vegetation, tall grass, and dark rocky hideaways helps dissuade snakes from making one's house or yard a snake's hideaway. It is hoped that these illustrations will assist in identification of those species which are venomous. Indonesians often wrongly identify snakes and usually say that ALL are poisonous. A snake which cannot be positively identified SHOULD be considered dangerous. VITAL 2007 UPDATE - Download and read more about Dangerous Venomous Snakes in Indonesia [ Word 1.25 MB] Snake bite treatment It is important to distinguish between snakebite and snake poisoning. The bite from a harmless snake can produce mild pain and extreme fear. A bite from a venomous snake may not necessarily mean that venom has been injected into the wound. If someone has received a bite, check for symptoms of poisoning, keep the victim calm and treat for shock, and keep the site of the bite lower than the heart, and immobile. DO NOT ADMINISTER ALCOHOL. Some good snake-related advice from a snake lover in Jakarta: One alternative to killing snakes you find in your yard is to call a member of the Jakarta Reptile Lovers Association. Pak Gunawan is one of the founders and runs the reptile house at TMII. He doesn't speak any English, so get someone to translate for you when you call him. He'll come to your home and catch a snake (particularly if it's very big or rare and it's not too far away) whether venomous or not. If you get bitten by a non-venomous snake, it may hold on for quite a while as it doesn't know what to do. To get the snake off you, either use a metal spoon to prise open its mouth (I don't approve of this as you'll hurt the snake badly by breaking its teeth) or put the part of you that's being bitten into a bucket/bath of water -- the snake won't be able to breath and will let go. Alternatively, just sit down on the ground, relax and wait for it to let go. If you make sudden movements and run around, it will hold on tighter. (As snakes can't hear it's quite ok to scream a lot as the bite will hurt.) Coral snake --- Ular Cabe This rare burrowing snake only reaches a length of about 50 cm. His slim back body has a line down its length with yellow markings on the small, flat head the belly is black and white checkered. The tail has a red-orange tip like chili pepper or a 'cabe'. He is shy and usually unwilling to bite. The venom is neurotoxic. Banded Krait -- Ular Welang and Ular Weling Both the Malayan and the Banded Krait are black with yellow bands and may be from 1-2 meters in length. They are found in or near paddies and bamboo groves. If disturbed they jerk their body and attempt to hide their head in the coils of their body. Due to their small head, shyness, and reluctance to bite, the chances of a fatal bite is slim, unless one treads on the startled snake. Their neurotoxic bite causes little pain or swelling but can produce muscle weakness, loss of coordination and eventual respiratory paralysis. Black Spitting Cobra---Ular Sendok King Cobra---Ular Raja There are two species of cobra--- the king cobra, usually a resident of the paddies, and the Black Spitting Cobra, comfortable in semi-urban areas. Both are aggressive if disturbed. The Cobra is easily recognized when he rises and spreads his hood. The colors of the snake range from black to brown to olive. Both can reach a length of 4 meters. Only the Spitting Cobra, sometimes seen in Jakarta, can eject a spray of venom for several feet, aiming at the enemy's eyes. This can cause temporary blindness but can be removed with repeated rinsing with sterile water. The nuerotoxic bite of either can cause pain and swelling with general muscle weakness following and eventual respiratory paralysis. Malayan Pit Viper -- Ular Tanah Green Pit Viper -- Ulat Bankai Laut or Ular Hijau Ekor Mira Both the Malayan Pit Viper and the Green Pit Viper are found around Jakarta. Each has a distinctive triangular head shape, stocky body, and a length of about 80 cm. Each has the ability to jump with great force when attacking. The Malayan Pit Viper is reddish brown with triangular markings on his sides and the Green Pit Viper is bright green with a distinct red tail. The Malayan Pit Viper rattles with his tail before striking as a warning. Vipers are nocturnal and can be easily be avoided by staying away from fields and rocky areas. The Hemotoxic bite causes immediate pain, swelling, bleeding, and tissue damage. Sea Snake --- Ular Laut There are varying types…… with bands or stripes in colors ranging through brown, olive, and yellow. All have a paddle-shaped tail and are found along the coast and in the sea. They are shy and will not bite unless provoked. The nuerotoxic bite is dangerous and there is no anti venom in Jakarta. Blue Temple Viper A tree snake whose bite is haematotoxic and indeed very dangerous. The affected limb of snake bite victim must be completely immobilized and a stretch bandage should be applied. The victim then needs to be transferred to the nearest hospital or emergency room for observation of signs of invenemation. We do not recommend to use antivenin, unless the patient is developing symptoms of invenemation, since most snake bites do not inject significant amounts of venom during a bite. Manipulation of the wound, suction, squeezing, massage, cutting the skin or application of ointments or remedies only increases the absorption of the venom, and should never be attempted. A polyvalent antivenom is available at the International SOS clinics in Bali and Jakarta. A non-venomous Indonesian snake is the Retriculated Python pictured here: Toxic Caterpillars Note: Not in the snake category, but just to make you aware, many varieties of caterpillars in Indonesia have an irritant in their fur. AVOID touching any caterpillars (ulat bulu), or the leaves which they crawl upon, in Indonesia as skin contact can result in swelling, welts and severe irritations. Source: Introducing Indonesia, 5th edition, AWA.(expat.or.id)