Two snake species — the spectacled cobra (Naja naja) and the Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosa) — accounted for 76% of all rescues across 232 identified hotspots in the Hyderabad metropolitan region.

A study by researchers at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) found that 54% of recorded rescues involved venomous species and these snakes appear to be particularly well adapted to densely populated urban environments, highlighting their ecological flexibility.

The researchers identified clear seasonal trends in snake encounters, which peak during the monsoon period from July to November and reach a maximum in October. These patterns closely align with breeding cycles, the birth of young snakes, and increased activity under favourable environmental conditions.

Conducted in collaboration with the Friends of Snakes Society (FOS), this is the first long-term study on urban snake ecology in Hyderabad. It recorded an annual increase of 8-10% in snake rescues over a decade, indicating that human-snake encounters are structured and predictable rather than random, said a press release on Wednesday.

Published in Global Ecology and Conservation, the study analysed 55,467 snake rescues between 2013 and 2022 to understand how snakes persist in rapidly urbanising landscapes. Distinct clusters of encounters were found in suburban hotspots, which together accounted for 6.9% of the city’s area.

These concentrations suggest that urban expansion and habitat modification are key drivers of human-snake interactions. Snake activity was also found to vary by species and time of day, with some being predominantly diurnal while others are nocturnal.

“The study provides the first empirical evidence of ‘synanthropisation’, where snakes adapt to human-modified environments,” said FOS lead Avinash Visvanathan. “They utilise urban green spaces, drainage networks, and prey availability to survive within city landscapes.” He added that rescue numbers are projected to increase by 8-12% annually, underlining the need to scale up rescue infrastructure.

Snake activity was found to be increasing in warmer conditions, while prolonged rainfall temporarily reduces movement. “Snakes play a critical role in regulating rodent and small vertebrate populations. Disruptions to their populations could trigger unintended consequences, including a surge in urban rodent numbers,” said CCMB lead scientist Karthikeyan Vasudevan

The findings underscore the importance of sustained and standardised rescue operations alongside public awareness campaigns. They also highlight the need to integrate ecological considerations into urban planning such as preserving green spaces and maintaining habitat connectivity to ensure both public safety and biodiversity conservation.

The researchers said the study demonstrates the value of long-term data in understanding urban wildlife and predicting future human-snake interactions.