A farmer in Nglipar Subdistrict, Gunungkidul, was startled after discovering a jumbo-sized red-tailed green pit viper (Trimeresurus insularis) while harvesting galangal in his field on Tuesday morning, March 3, 2026.
The highly venomous snake was found coiled among the dense stems of the galangal plants.
The incident occurred when Billy, a local farmer, was digging up galangal rhizomes in preparation for market day. As he prepared to cut the stems, he noticed movement behind the thick green leaves.
“The color was almost identical to the galangal leaves, making it nearly invisible. Luckily, I saw the reddish tail before my hand reached the area,” Billy said.
Realizing the snake was a Gadung Luwuk—the local name for the red-tailed green pit viper, a species known for its potent venom—Billy immediately took precautions to prevent harm.
Using simple tools, including a long stick and a plastic bottle, he managed to safely capture the snake, which measured nearly one meter in length. No injuries or bites were reported in the incident.
The red-tailed green pit viper possesses hemotoxic venom that can damage blood and tissue. Although the species is generally slow-moving, it can become highly defensive when threatened.
With the harvest season underway and humid weather increasing wildlife activity, the environmental conservation group Exalos Indonesia has urged farmers to remain cautious while working in fields.
The organization recommends wearing boots and gloves and checking undergrowth or piles of harvested crops with tools before handling them directly. Residents are also encouraged to report encounters with large or venomous snakes to firefighters or trained reptile volunteers.
The captured snake is expected to be handed over to a reptile community or released into a habitat far from human settlements in order to maintain ecological balance.
