Identification of Risk Areas for Gloydius Snakebites in South Korea

Snakebites can pose a significant threat to human health as the destruction of natural habitats and increased human intrusion into ecosystems result in more frequent encounters with snakes. Mitigation measures for snakebites are particularly crucial for hiking trails where transportation of snakebite victims to medical facilities is challenging due to limited emergency resources and difficult access. This study employed a random forest-based species distribution model approach to investigate the potential habitats of Gloydius spp., specifically Gloydius saxatilis, Gloydius brevicaudus, and Gloydius ussuriensis, in South Korea and to assess the snakebite risk in national parks. Potential habitats of Gloydius spp. were identified and visualized by overlaying binary maps derived from species distribution models (SDMs) of each Gloydius spp. that corresponded to high-risk snakebite areas. In addition, hiking trails with high snakebite risk in the national parks were identified after demonstrating the statistical correlation between the potential habitat distribution of Gloydius spp. and the actual snakebite incidents in major regions of South Korea. The primary environmental variables determining Gloydius spp. habitat were the topographic position index, slope, and the annual average of the maximum and minimum temperatures. The potential habitat of G. saxatilis generally appeared in high-altitude mountainous areas, mostly in the eastern part of the study area. Favorable habitats for G. brevicaudus and G. ussuriensis were predominantly located in mountainous areas throughout the study area, with the exception of some high-altitude mountainous terrain in the east. The number of snakebite incidents per 10,000 people was significantly correlated with the area ratio of Gloydius spp. potential habitat (Spearman's rho = 0.638, p < 0.01). The proportion of snakebite risk areas among national parks in South Korea ranged from 18% to 57%. This study can support practical solutions to prevent injuries and fatalities among hikers due to snakebites by identifying areas with a high risk of snakebite accidents at the hiking-trail level.