EXTRAORDINARY BUT DEADLY
Recently, in the Kehje Sewen Forest, our Post-Release Monitoring Team stumbled across an animal they instantly recognised from its iconic shape and colour. It can be found on tree branches and even on the ground. Yap! It was a Sumatra pit viper.
Our Post-Release Monitoring Team patrols the forest transects in search of orangutans, but they always keep their eyes open for other potential encounters like maroon langurs (Presbytis rubicunda), Bornean gibbons (Hylobates muelleri) – or Sumatra pit vipers (Trimeresurus sumatranus) from the Viperidae family.
The Sumatra pit viper’s body is greenish-yellowish, with black crosses in adults and green in juveniles. It also has a triangular head and gold-yellow irises. The striking dark green colour makes it difficult to see this snake in a tree.
Please do not disturb
Its hemotoxic venom affects the circulatory system, causing tissue damage, swelling, widespread stiffness and pain, nausea, heart arrhythmia, and even death. Therefore, it is best to avoid disturbing or approaching carelessly when encountering this snake.
As a nocturnal animal, the Sumatra pit viper hunts for prey at night and sleeps coiled up on a tree branch during the day. Despite its short tail, this snake can hold onto tree branches firmly. Its diet typically consists of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals.
Elevation record in Borneo
The Sumatra pit viper is found in the southernmost regions of Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, and some smaller islands in Indonesia. In Borneo, this snake has been observed at elevations as high as 1,178 meters, which is the highest known record for this species. It prefers habitats within forests, particularly tropical areas with bamboo thickets and low bushes along rivers.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) currently classifies the Sumatra pit viper as a species of least concern.
Our encounter with this snake was unexpected, but despite their potential danger, their conservation is crucial. When left undisturbed, they play a vital role in their ecosystems, contributing to the balance – just like orangutans.
Please learn more about our conservation work here.
