63 endemic snakes in spotlight at global congress
– Sri Lanka’s 63 endemic snake species have come under the spotlight as more than 400 international and local experts gathered in Kandy today for the world’s first international conference dedicated entirely to snakes.
The “1st World Congress on Snakes – 2026,” held under the theme “Snakes, Science, Species Survival & Sri Lanka,” commenced today at The Grand Kandyan Hotel under the patronage of Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi.Experts, researchers, environmentalists and field specialists representing 42 countries are participating in the four-day congress, which focuses on snake diversity, conservation, scientific research and species survival.Sri Lanka’s snake biodiversity is a major focus of the conference, with 112 of the 411 snake species recorded worldwide found on the island.Of these, 63 species are endemic to Sri Lanka, accounting for 56.3% of the country’s recorded snake species.
The high level of endemism places particular importance on protecting Sri Lanka’s snake populations, as the loss of an endemic species could mean the loss of that species from the entire world.However, many of Sri Lanka’s snake species are facing increasing threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, agricultural expansion, urbanization and climate change.Extreme weather events and other environmental disruptions have also contributed to increased encounters between wildlife and human communities, adding another dimension to the conservation challenge.The congress is also addressing the issue of snakebites, which remains a serious public health concern in Sri Lanka and internationally. Nearly 10,000 snakebite cases are reported in Sri Lanka annually, with hundreds of deaths recorded. Globally, approximately 138,000 people die each year from snakebites, while many survivors suffer permanent disabilities.
At the same time, experts have stressed that only a very small proportion of Sri Lanka’s snake species pose a serious medical threat to humans, with the vast majority considered harmless. The conference aims to bring together international expertise to strengthen research and conservation efforts while identifying practical measures to protect snake species and reduce human-snake conflict. Addressing the inaugural session, Minister Patabendi said agencies affiliated with the Ministry were working to implement national biodiversity priorities under the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2026–2030.He said the conference should not end with academic discussions alone but should generate actionable knowledge that could ultimately help save both human and wildlife lives.
Sri Lanka, the United States and Australia are key partners of the congress, with participants from countries including India, Germany, Pakistan, Poland and Malaysia.Eight new books on snakes are also scheduled to be launched during the event, while the Department of Posts plans to issue a commemorative stamp marking the first World Snake Conference.