Russell’s Viper Rescued in Tezpur, Assam

A highly venomous Russell’s Viper was recently rescued from the Rongamati area of Tezpur, Assam, in an operation led by renowned serpent expert Sourabh Borkotoky. The snake, discovered near an army camp, was safely captured and, as per Borkotoky’s recommendation, will be transferred to the Guwahati Zoo by the Forest Department. This marks the tenth Russell’s Viper rescued by Borkotoky in Sonitpur district and the first rescue of this species in Assam in 2025. Notably, Borkotoky had previously rescued a Russell’s Viper in the district at the end of 2023. In 2024, he successfully rescued several individuals of this species, with two being relocated to the Guwahati Zoo and one transferred to Kaziranga for medical treatment.

Borkotoky and his team, known as the “Serpent-Friendly Sourabh Borkotoky Team,” have been actively involved in rescuing both live and deceased Russell’s Vipers in Sonitpur. Tragically, some of these snakes have been found dead under the wheels of vehicles. Borkotoky has also been instrumental in raising awareness about the presence of Russell’s Vipers in local farming areas, particularly in Bihaguri. He emphasizes that while snake activity may decrease during winter, Russell’s Vipers remain active, seeking new habitats even in colder weather. Since 2023, Borkotoky has been actively conducting awareness campaigns to educate the public about the dangers posed by these venomous creatures.