Tread with caution if you detect a snake

Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) discovered nine sea snakes, some dangerous, in the country's waters.

EAD, which has been collecting sea snake specimens as part of its marine wildlife monitoring programme, said in a report: "A total of nine sea snakes were recorded during EAD's ad-hoc marine monitoring programmes in Abu Dhabi."

The report said the reptiles, some found dead and some alive, were collected between 2002 and 2006 off Marawah Island, Jernain Island and Abu Dhabi.

The agency recorded at least four sea snake species in Abu Dhabi waters. The species are the Arabian Gulf Sea Snake, Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, Short Sea Snake and one unidentified species of the genus Hydrophis. The snakes measured 50cm to 77cm long.

The agency calls on the public not to touch any washed-up sea snakes that they may encounter on the beach.

Warning

"Sea snakes have weak spines and so become helpless and appear lifeless on land. Worldwide, there have been few records of human fatalities due to sea snake bites.

"Sea snakes can open their tiny mouths to bite or swallow larger objects. They are also capable of swallowing prey two to three times the diameter of their necks," the report said.

The Arabian Gulf Sea Snake, the most common sea snake in Abu Dhabi waters, is dangerous and its bite can be fatal.

However, according to the agency, this species is usually docile. It lives in warm, shallow waters or in sea grass. It is yellow in colour, sometimes a pale dull green or grey, with dark bands along the length of its body.

Approximately 50 species of sea snake live in warm tropical waters and are distributed across the Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Ten sea snake species have been found in the Arabian Gulf.

Unless threatened it will not bite

Sea snakes are the most venomous of the world's snakes. One drop of sea snake venom is reputed to have the potency to kill five men.

This high toxicity enables them to disable their coldblooded prey, such as fish, crabs and squid on which they feed. Even young sea snakes have venom as potent as any adult.

According to environmentalists, sea snakes are never aggressive and never bite unless they are troubled.

Sometimes they bite but may not release the lethal venom, which is why there are very few cases of people dying of sea snake bites. However, when the venom is released, the victim cannot survive.

Medical assistance

In case of a bite, the first thing anyone should do is seek medical assistance by calling for an ambulance. But there are also other things that the public should do before the victim goes to the hospital.

The Poison and Drug Information Centre in Abu Dhabi advises the public to do the following: Do NOT tourniquet the wound - "Although it will prevent the poison from spreading to other parts of the body, it will also concentrate the poison in the area and cause tissue damage," said Dr Mohammad Abuelkhair, drug consultant at the centre.

Limit movement as much as possible to prevent the poison from spreading; keep the victim calm and remove him or her from the snake's area; wash the wound clean with soap and water; leave the bite alone. Do NOT make any cuts over the bite site.

All emergency departments at public hospitals in the UAE have anti-venom in stock or access to it, said Dr Abuelkhair.

Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter

As a keen beach-goer, I would like to thank the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi for their concern about the public and for their great efforts to protect our precious marine environment.
Rasha
Abu Dhabi,UAE

I dive a lot in the UAE and Oman and have seen sea snakes, but very, very rarely and only in deeper water and a rocky environment. They are tiny and very shy. One should never touch flotsam on the shore as it can be dangerous, poisonous or even radioactive waste or leftovers from vessels.
J. Buschbaum
Dubai,UAE