Fishnet Entrapment of Samar Cobras (Naja samarensis) in Rural Eastern Visayas: Rethinking Community-Level Snakebite...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Zoology
• Ecology

Background:

• Snakebite envenomation poses a significant public health challenge in the Philippines, especially in regions with endemic venomous snakes like the Samar cobra (Naja samarensis).
• Rural communities often lack resources for snake management, leading to the adoption of potentially hazardous prevention methods such as perimeter barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document incidents of snake entrapment on residential fishnet fences.
• To analyze the risks associated with using such barriers for snake management.
• To identify gaps in community-level snakebite prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Case reporting of three incidents involving Naja samarensis entrapment on a fishnet fence.
• Observation of snake mortality due to entanglement.
• Analysis of the context and intent behind the fence's installation.

Main Results:

• Three Samar cobras (Naja samarensis) died from entanglement in a residential fishnet fence between July 2025 and March 2026.
• No human envenomation occurred, as residents did not attempt to remove the trapped snakes.
• The fishnet was intentionally used for trapping, not just deterrence, indicating a high risk of secondary envenomation.

Conclusions:

• The use of fishnet fences for snake trapping presents a significant risk of secondary envenomation and highlights a structural deficiency in community snakebite prevention.
• There is a critical need for integrated strategies including local snake rescuer training, education, environmental risk reduction, and improved antivenom access.
• These interventions should align with the World Health Organization's 2030 roadmap for snakebite management.