The most dangerous venomous snakes in Phuket

Phuket is home to an incredibly diverse array of flora and fauna. This paradise island serves as a native habitat for many animals, birds, reptiles, and insects. Among them is a particularly intimidating group — snakes. Especially the venomous ones. Here, we talk about the most dangerous species you would never want to encounter in real life.

King cobra

The king cobra, or hamadryad, is the largest venomous snake. Some individuals can reach over 5 meters in length. The king cobra continues to grow throughout its life, which can last up to 30 years. It inhabits forested areas or locations near water bodies.

It’s easy to recognize: the snake has a distinctive hood and can lift its head to a third of its body length, sometimes even moving in this upright position.

The king cobra’s venom is deadly, containing a lethal combination of neurotoxins and cytotoxins that disrupt the central nervous system, causing respiratory muscle paralysis and cardiac arrest within 15-30 minutes.

However, the cobra doesn’t always inject venom when it bites; often, it conserves this resource by delivering “dry” warning bites. Statistically, only 10% of human bites from king cobras prove fatal.

Generally, the king cobra is a patient snake and won’t attack without reason. But if a person disturbs it, provoking aggression and ending up close, it’s advised to stand or sit at the cobra’s eye level, avoid sudden movements, and maintain eye contact. After a few minutes, the cobra may perceive you as non-threatening and retreat.

The king cobra is not particularly interested in humans as a food source, preferring other snakes or small monitors for lunch.

Monocled cobra

The monocled cobra grows to about 120-150 cm in length, with a color ranging from yellow and cream-gray to black.

What makes it especially dangerous is that it is active throughout the day, not just at night like many other snakes. It preys on rodents, birds, and frogs and prefers to inhabit moist areas.

This snake is quite aggressive, and its venom also contains neurotoxins and cytotoxins that cause respiratory paralysis and tissue necrosis. If it feels threatened, the cobra will lift the front third of its body and flare the eight pairs of cervical ribs, revealing its “hood” with a distinctive pattern. However, if you react calmly upon encountering it, the snake will likely retreat after a while.

Russell’s Viper

The most common venomous snake in South Asia, accounting for more than half of all recorded snake bites. The Russell’s viper can grow to about 165 cm in length and has a camouflaging coloration ranging from light yellow to brown. It’s also known as the “chain viper.”

This snake enjoys feasting on various rodents, which often leads it to inhabit human dwellings in dry areas with shrubbery, hedges, or burrows. Like many other snakes, it hunts after sunset.

The viper’s venom acts slowly but relentlessly, causing multiple internal hemorrhages and organ failure, leading to death within a week. However, the viper only attacks if it feels threatened. Upon encountering one, it’s best to avoid contact and quickly leave its vicinity.

Banded Krait

This venomous snake from the elapid family is found in the tropical forests of India, southern China, Burma, and Thailand. It has a black and yellow pattern and can grow up to 2.5 meters in length.

During the day, the banded krait hides in burrows or under tree roots, and even if accidentally disturbed, it’s likely to curl up rather than attack. However, at night, the snake becomes aggressive as it goes out hunting.

Sometimes, the banded krait might crawl onto the beach at dusk to warm itself in the sand, making an encounter possible. If this happens, it’s best to leave immediately. A bite from this snake is almost certain to be fatal. It can contain up to 114 mg of venom, which stops vital functions within seconds.

Malayan Pit Viper

The small but deadly Malayan pit viper reaches only about one meter in length. However, it is extremely dangerous, and there is currently no direct antidote for its venom.

This viper inhabits bamboo thickets and tropical forests. It is well camouflaged, with its color varying from pale pink to light brown depending on the soil in its habitat.

The Malayan pit viper is nocturnal. It hunts by lying motionless in the grass and striking its prey with a sudden lunge. Its venom essentially eats away at tissues from the inside.

White-lipped Pit Viper

This small snake, about one meter in length, is a striking bright green. The white-lipped pit viper can also be found in trees and prefers forested areas, emerging mainly at night.

Its venom is potent enough to kill an adult human, disrupting the circulatory system and causing severe bleeding and tissue necrosis. However, bites from this snake rarely lead to death, as an antidote has long been available in Thailand.

Red-necked Keelback

The red-necked keelback is uniquely colored, with a gradient from light yellow to bright orange, and grows no more than a meter in length.

For a long time, this snake was considered non-venomous and even kept as a pet in home terrariums. However, a bite from the red-necked keelback can cause brain hemorrhage and kidney failure.

The good news is that this snake has rear fangs, meaning it needs to bite its victim for an extended period to inject a lethal dose of venom.

What to do if you get bitten by a snake?

1. Immediately call for help, preferably a local resident, as they are more knowledgeable about what to do in case of a venomous snake bite. Say “snake bite” in English or simply show the bite site. It’s essential to call an ambulance right away. The list of the best hospitals in Phuket is mentioned on this page.
2. Try to remember the details of the snake that bit you: color, size, head shape, and any distinctive features. This information is necessary for the medical team to select the correct antivenom. Ideally, take a photo of the snake.
3. Stay calm and reassure the victim, as fear and panic increase heart rate, which accelerates the spread of venom through the body.
4. Do not attempt to squeeze out or suck the venom from the wound as seen in movies; this won’t help and could make the situation worse.
5. Immobilize the affected area to slow the spread of venom and avoid moving.

If you are unsure whether the snake is venomous, treat the bite as if it is. Venomous bites typically leave two fang marks, and symptoms can worsen quickly.

Remember that even the most venomous species do not attack humans without reason. To provoke such aggressive behavior, you must disturb or anger the snake.

If you encounter a suspicious snake on your property, do not try to chase or capture it yourself. Call a snake-catching service — there are several in Phuket, and they employ professional snake catchers.

Avoid putting yourself in danger: don’t walk through the jungle at night, avoid tall grass, and don’t stay overnight on wild beaches. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe!

If you want to see snakes and other reptiles, the best option is to visit a zoo or terrarium. You can find a list of the best ones in Phuket in the Zoo Parks section. Also, check out the Excursions section to learn even more about the island.