Sri Lanka to Host International Snake Conservation Congress in Kandy in October

Kandy, Sri Lanka will host a landmark international snake congress from October 1 to 4, 2026, bringing together leading herpetologists, toxinologists, wildlife researchers and conservation experts from across Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas. Organisers say the four-day event is among the most ambitious international gatherings dedicated to snakes, their ecological role and the public health challenge of snakebite.

The congress programme spans biodiversity conservation, snakebite mitigation, climate change impacts on reptiles, venom research and ecosystem health. Keynote speakers include Vivek Menon, founder and executive director of the Wildlife Trust of India and current Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, who will address how snake conservation fits within broader international biodiversity frameworks. Romulus Whitaker, the legendary Indian herpetologist, will present on integrating community knowledge, conservation and snakebite mitigation, emphasising that snakebite prevention is closely linked to environmental and social wellbeing.

The congress addresses snakebite as both a conservation and a public health issue. Sri Lankan toxinologist Anjana Silva will discuss the local dynamics of snakebite and its socioeconomic burden on rural communities, while Australian toxinology expert Geoff Isbister will focus on controversies in antivenom treatment. Daniel Natusch of Australia will examine sustainability in the global snake trade, and Rick Shine will trace the evolution of snake ecology research from early naturalists to modern citizen-science platforms such as iNaturalist. Sri Lanka is internationally recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, making it a fitting venue for a global gathering on reptile science and conservation.

The congress was founded by conservationists including Anslem de Silva, widely regarded as the Father of Herpetology in Sri Lanka, Julie Ray and Daniel Natusch. De Silva said the event aims to replace fear with scientific understanding while promoting coexistence and conservation. Secretary General Nimal D Rathnayake described the congress as a collaborative platform connecting researchers, conservationists, educators and healthcare professionals to address urgent environmental and public health challenges linked to snakes. Organisers say the event will also inspire younger researchers and strengthen international cooperation in biodiversity science at a time when climate change and biodiversity decline are reshaping reptile habitats across Asia and beyond.

Key figure — October 1-4, 2026 congress dates in Kandy, Sri Lanka