Climate change is raising the threat of red-tail vipers as they are forced down from their natural tree habitats in provinces in central Vietnam in search of food, experts from the Vietnam Animal Association say.

  A man in Nghe An Province is catching a red-tail viper in his garden.

Professor Dang Huy Huynh, chairman of Vietnam Animal Association, said temperature change may explain the increase in the number of snakes, and their growing presence in residential areas in the central and southern regions could be attributed to the shrinking of their natural, jungle habitat. Red-tailed vipers, unlike many of their egg-laying reptile kin, give birth to live young, and their natural predators, such as foxes and felines, are the targets of unlicensed hunters. 

Red-tailed vipers give birth to live young. 

The red-tails are not as venomous as the cobra: their bite does not affect the nervous system, but attacks the circulatory system, and symptoms can take some time to present. A further danger is that they can secrete poison up to ninety-minutes after death, which can be a threat to domestic dogs and cats.

Huynh said the best protection was to clear bushes around residences and remain vigilant when going out at night, when the snakes are most active.

The Treatment and Examination Management Department has instructed all medical units to take training courses in snakebite treatment. The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals in Nha Trang City has a serum for red-tail viper venom.

Hundreds of households in some central provinces have been affected by the intrusion of the snakes into gardens and living spaces. Nam Dan District authorities in Nghe An province have set up a task force to deal with the problem. Local people have been called on to clear bush areas. They will also be paid VND20,000 (USD1) for each viper caught.