The effects of climate change could cause large numbers of venomous snake species to migrate to new, unprepared regions. This emerges from a new study cited by the British newspaper “The Guardian”.
According to the study published in Lancet Planetary Health, countries such as Nepal, Niger, Namibia, China and Myanmar could be particularly affected by this migration. The largest increase in poisonous snake species from neighboring countries is expected here. The researchers predict that low-income countries in South and Southeast Asia and parts of Africa in particular could be severely affected by an increase in snakebites.
209 poisonous snakes could be relocated
The scientists created a model that depicts the geographical distribution of 209 venomous snake species that could find favorable climatic conditions by 2070.
As the Guardian further reports, some snake species, including the West African Gaboon viper, will be able to expand their habitats by up to 250 percent due to climate change. Other species, such as the European aspis viper and the horned viper, could even more than double their habitats by 2070, according to the study.
However, there are also species that could lose more than 70% of their habitat, including the African variable bush viper and the American hognose lance viper.
