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Conservation5 min read Sample data

The green pit viper, an endemic jewel of the wet zone

Why this tree-dwelling viper matters to Sri Lankan forests, and how to give it space.

Published Aug 12, 2026

Sri Lankan green pit viper lying along a branch in dappled forest light.
Photo: Akshaysurendra1 · CC0

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The Sri Lankan green pit viper is found nowhere else in the world. It spends most of its life in shrubs and trees in the wet zone and central hills, waiting motionless for lizards, frogs and small mammals.

Because it is so well camouflaged, people working in tea, cardamom and home gardens sometimes come within reach without noticing it. Bites are painful and need medical care, even when symptoms seem mild at first.

Leave it where it is if it is away from people, and call a rescuer if it needs to be moved. Never try to catch or kill it.

Bitten by a snake? Keep calm, keep still and go to the nearest hospital immediately. Call 1990 for an ambulance.

Call 1990