Land-use and environment: Untangling drivers of Daboia russelii's abundance in Hajeera, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Title : Land-use and environment: Untangling drivers of Daboia russelii's abundance in Hajeera, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract:

Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) is a medically important snake in human-modified landscapes. Based on the increased snakebite cases in study areas reported by community this study was planned by integrating field methodology, GIS figures, PMD Rawalakot station records, and questionnaire response summaries to describe environmental context and community-reported encounters in Hajeera, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. In the present study a questionnaire survey was carried out and the responses are interpreted as community beliefs and practices relevant to risk communication on the basis of the number of snake encounters. The climate workbook contains 44 observations, April-July monthly for 2015-2025 and two additional observations for April-May 2026, giving 46 monthly observations in total. July had the highest mean minimum temperature (16.08 oC), precipitation (225.06 mm), and relative humidity; June had the highest mean maximum temperature (27.63 oC). None of the five seasonal trends for 2015-2025 was statistically significant (all p > 0.05). The 2025 LULC map identifies forest, built-up area, rangeland, water, and bare ground as the principal mapped classes. Builtup area increased 92.36%, Forest cover increased approximately 29%, declining rangeland from 32.41% to 12.71%. Thirty questionnaire records were analysed collectively, and Firth logistic regression analyzed associations between reported encounters, perceived warming, habitat selections, and reported urban expansion indicating bushes as strongest encounter point for the snakes.

Based on the results, the present study presents a completed climatic, mapped, and community-description account of Daboia russelii evidence in Hajeera and distinguishes reported encounters, snakebite-risk perceptions, and ecological abundance as separate analytical quantities.

Keywords: Daboia russelii; Russell's viper; PMD; Rawalakot; climate variability; land use; land cover; Hajeera; GIS; environmental science. 

Biography:

Sara Shahzad presenter,  as an environmental scineces researcher with interests in herpetology, wildlife ecology, and geographic information systems. she current research examines reported encounters with Daboia russelii in Hajeera and surrounding areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. she combined land cover analysis, historical climatic records, and questionnaire data to explore environmental conditions associated with encounters between people and snakes. She technical interests include ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine, spatial analysis, and biodiversity conservation. Through my work, she aims to improve understanding of local snake ecology and support community awareness, environmental education, wildlife conservation, and efforts to reduce snakebite ris.