Snakes are also ready to migrate due to the climate crisis and land consumption and – obviously – researchers believe that many countries are unprepared for the influx of new species and will be vulnerable to bites
Global warming will also likely lead to a large-scale migration of venomous snake species to new regions.
This is according to a study published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health, according to which by 2070 there will be substantial losses of areas best suited for the survival of most venomous snake species.
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This is the reason why, according to calculations, they will be forced to migrate and it will be above all countries such as Nepal, Niger, Namibia, China and Myanmar that will be “invaded” by the most venomous snake species.
I study
The study modeled the geographic distribution of 209 species of venomous snakes known to be dangerous to humans to understand where they might find favorable climate conditions by 2070.
While most venomous snake species will experience a reduction in range (the surface area inhabited by a species) due to loss of tropical and subtropical ecosystemsthe habitats of some species such as the viper Gabon of West Africa will increase by up to 250%, according to the study.
It is expected that too the ranges of the European asp and the horned viper will more than double by 2070. However, some snakes, including the endemic wild viper of Africa and the viper of the Americas, are expected to they will lose more than 70% of their territory.
As More and more land is being converted to agriculture and livestock raisingthe natural habitats on which snakes rely are destroyed and fragmented – said study authors Pablo Ariel Martinez of the Federal University of Sergipe in Brazil and Talita F Amado of the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity.
However, some generalist snake species, particularly those of medical interest, can adapt to agricultural landscapes and even thrive in some crop fields or ranching areas that provide food sources such as rodents.
Effects of climate change on potential habitable areas for venomous snakes, 2070 @Lancet
The World Health Organization estimates that every year between 1.8 and 2.7 million people are bitten by venomous snakes, causing up to 138 thousand deaths and at least 400 thousand amputations and permanent disabilities. In 2017, WHO classified snakebite envenomation as a neglected tropical disease of the highest priority.
We are finally getting a better understanding of how snakes will change their distribution with climate change, but there is also big concern that they will bite more people if warm temperatures, severe weather events and floods that displace snakes and people become more frequent.
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