Snakes in Abu Dhabi

Loathe snakes? Be on the lookout. Armed with a powerful venom and sharp reflexes, the Saw-Scaled Viper is the country’s deadliest snake – and they’re heading for our city’s gardens and apartments. This species, according to Johannes Els, head of reptiles at the Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah, has benefited due to the irrigation of gardens, which have become an easy and constant source of water. Air-conditioned buildings are perfect for them too and there has been a rise in the number of reports in residential buildings. Fortunately they’re not aggressive by nature and if disturbed are likely to just slither away.