Snake Fact Sheet
Our scaly friends are a secretive bunch, and there’s a lot of misinformation floating around about them. We asked the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to give us the lowdown on Hong Kong snakes.
Our Most Prolific Snakes
“There are 52 native species of snakes recorded in Hong Kong. The five most common snakes are the bamboo snake, Chinese cobra, red-necked keelback, many-banded krait and common rat snake."
How Many Are Venomous?
“Out of the 52 native species recorded, 14 terrestrial snakes and six sea snakes are venomous. Their venom potency ranges from causing severe pain and swelling to death. No single characteristic can distinguish a venomous snake from a non-venomous one—the common perception that all venomous snakes have triangular-shaped heads is unreliable."
Which Ones Are Most Dangerous?
“A study from a major hospital in the New Territories indicates that over 95 percent of recorded venomous snakebites in Hong Kong were related to the bamboo snake. Cobra bites occurred much less frequently and bites from kraits were rarely reported.”