Snake diversity at Sherubtse Natural Reserve Study Area (SNRSA), Khaling Kharungla Forest Management Unit (KKFMU)

Ten species and subspecies of Snakes under 10 genera and 3 families are reported for the first time from Sherubtse Natural Resource Study Area (SNRSA) at Khaling-Kharungla Forest Management Unit (KKFMU), East Bhutan of which Coelognathus radiatus is the new record from Bhutan. An up-to-date check-list of 49 species and subspecies of identified snakes found in Bhutan spreading to 30 genera under five families has also been provided. A number of awareness campaigns have been undertaken to educate the local community about the snake habitats, their ecological importance, venomous and non-venomous snake bite recognition and the necessary first aid. The campaigns were aimed as a part of conservational effort to reduce the fear of snakes from the mind of local people. The project period being quite short was not sufficient to document the entire species composition of snakes at Sherubtse Natural Resources Study Area and thus the study remained fairly incomplete.