Changing Landscapes and Snake Conservation in India: A Review
Babita Singh Kushwah *
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Nananji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Somesh Singh
School of Wildlife Forensic and Health, Nananji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Snakes play important ecological roles by regulating prey populations, contributing to food-web stability, and participating in ecosystem processes. India supports considerable snake diversity across forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural landscapes, and urban environments. However, rapid urbanisation, habitat fragmentation, infrastructure development, road mortality, and negative human perceptions increasingly challenge snake conservation. These pressures interact by reducing habitat availability, restricting movement, increasing exposure to vehicles, and intensifying encounters between snakes and people. Road-associated mortality is particularly concerning because snake carcasses are easily overlooked, and mortality estimates may be influenced by carcass persistence and observer detection. Indian studies from Pench Tiger Reserve, Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong, and the Western Ghats demonstrate the importance of systematic roadkill monitoring and landscape-specific assessment. Human-snake encounters further complicate conservation because fear, misinformation, and retaliatory killing can result in unnecessary mortality, while encounters with venomous species present genuine public-health concerns. This review examines the ecological consequences of landscape transformation, urbanisation, road mortality, and human–snake interactions in India. It evaluates existing conservation approaches, identifies methodological and management gaps, and discusses practical interventions, including habitat protection, wildlife-sensitive infrastructure, roadkill mitigation, scientific rescue, veterinary care, community participation, and public-health coordination. Particular attention is given to the limitations of interpreting rescue records and isolated mortality observations as indicators of population trends. The review highlights the need for standardised monitoring, stronger evaluation of mitigation measures, and collaboration among wildlife managers, researchers, veterinary professionals, transport authorities, and health services. Integrating biodiversity conservation with public safety through a One Health perspective can help reduce preventable snake mortality, improve responses to snakebite, and promote coexistence between people and snakes. Long-term conservation success will depend on addressing the underlying ecological and social causes of conflict rather than relying primarily on reactive rescue operations.
Keywords: Snake conservation, urbanization, road mortality, human-snake conflict, habitat fragmentation, wildlife management, One Health