Dubai residents have been advised to exercise caution after numerous sightings of the deadly saw-scaled viper around residential areas of the city, UAE daily The National reported on Tuesday.
The warning comes after the reptile was recently seen in The Lakes villa community of Dubai.
"It is not the intention to alarm but to inform you so you can be on your guard, especially those with small children, in respect of the presence of a snake species that warrants an alert as it can be aggressive and venomous," a notice handed to residents read.
"It was confirmed by Dubai Municipality Pest Control Section that the snake species found and photographed in the area is a saw-scaled viper. There have been several snake sightings, though many unconfirmed and probably even more unreported."
Said to be one of the world’s more dangerous snakes, the saw-scaled viper is also listed as one of five dangerous snakes in the emirate, the report added.
The viper is an aggressive predator that hunts mainly at night, is easily provoked and strikes rapidly when it senses danger.
Residents have been advised not to approach or handle any snakes, especially the saw-scaled viper, if seen.
In an effort to discourage snakes from entering gardens, residents are also advised to clear away debris such as piles of leaves and to cut back overgrown hedges.
Dubai Municipality suggests residents should also clear rubbish to prevent rodents which snakes feed on – the advice being that without places to shelter or a source of food, the reptiles will go elsewhere, the newspaper added.
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