Body: Among more than 3000 species of snakes found around the globe, Nepal is a home to about 77 snake species belonging to the families Elapidae, Viperidae, Typhlopidae, Boidae, and Colubridae.
Atretium schistosum is a non-venomous snake species belonging to the family Colubridae. Also known as Olive Keelback, it is native to South Asia and is recorded to be found in Bangladesh, Srilanka, India, and Nepal. Although, it is very rare in Nepal, and thus no clear photographs of this snake were out till date.
Last Friday, the snake was seen in Bardaghat municipality of Nawalparasi West by the photojournalist Raj Adhikari and rescuer Durga Lamichhane. And the photographs they captured are the first photographs of this snake captured in Nepal to be available in the public platforms.
Olive Keelback is a small, olive-green snake, most commonly found in water sources and their surrounding vegetation. Fishes, frogs and tadpoles are its primary food. It is harmless to humans and possesses no or very less medical significance.
“The snake is rarely sighted in Nepal,” said Sunil Sapkota,a snake expert.
Adhikari claims that it is the first ever photograph of Olive keelback from Nepal.
Photojournalist Adhikari has given remarkable contributions in the field of wildlife conservation. His works have been featured by dozens of national and international media and portals.
