In short. There is no official map of Bali's snakes; according to Badung rescuers, pythons and cobras most often end up in houses, and sea snakes are not touched even if sluggish. After a bite: rest, a splint on the arm or leg, do not cut, burn or suck, do not apply a tourniquet, do not catch the snake, go straight to a hospital with round-the-clock admission that has antivenom (serum anti bisa ular). A pressure bandage only for bites of a cobra, krait or sea snake. Numbers: 112 general, 113 fire service (who also come out for a snake in the house), 118 and 119 ambulance. Jellyfish: vinegar for 30 seconds, remove the tentacles, call an ambulance. Bites from dogs, cats and monkeys need rabies shots.
What is known about snakes in Bali. There is no single official map of the island's snakes, and WHO in its regional guideline directly writes that there are no reliable data for Indonesia. So below are a scientific reference and local media. By the Reptile Database, three venomous species are recorded in Bali: the Javan spitting cobra Naja sputatrix, the Malayan krait Bungarus candidus and the island pit viper Trimeresurus insularis. Mongabay Indonesia in July 2026 described the pit viper as a snake that camouflages well. About king cobras, Detik Bali wrote that they are found near housing, including a female with 33 eggs. The database does not list Bali for the king cobra, so we rely on the outlet's report.
Sea snakes. WHO counts sea snakes among the medically important venomous snakes of the region. We could not tie a particular species to Bali's beaches from official data. The rule for the water is simple: do not touch sea snakes, even if the snake seems sluggish or dead.
Where they are more common. Detik Bali in July 2025 wrote that Badung firefighters get calls about snakes almost every day, most often in the South Kuta area, and that pythons and cobras end up in houses. The reason, in the outlet's words, is that natural habitats are shrinking. Near rice fields, in gardens, at villas with overgrown plots and near drains the chances of meeting one are higher.
A bite: what to do. The recommendations of WHO for South-East Asia and the Indonesian Ministry of Health agree:
- Calm the person and do not panic yourself. Fear itself causes some of the symptoms.
- Immobilise the bitten arm or leg with a splint or a sling. Any muscle movement speeds venom into the blood.
- Do nothing to the wound: do not cut it, burn it or suck it, and do not apply herbs, ice or chemicals. WHO calls these methods useless or dangerous.
- Do not tie a tourniquet. A tightly bound limb can suffer more than from the bite itself.
- Do not kill the snake or touch it with your hands. If it was killed, the head can still bite for some time. A photo on your phone will help the doctor.
- Take the person at once to a hospital with round-the-clock admission that has antivenom. In Indonesia it is serum anti bisa ular, SABU. At a Ministry of Health event in December 2025 a Bio Farma representative called antivenom the main therapy, and the material itself says the outcome depends on the first actions.
Pressure bandage. WHO advises a pressure immobilisation bandage for bites of cobras, kraits and sea snakes, because their venom affects the nerves and can stop breathing. For a pit viper bite such a bandage is not applied, as it increases local damage. If the species of snake is unclear, limit yourself to rest and a splint and get the person to doctors quickly. This is our conclusion from the WHO recommendations, and the doctor will decide on the bandage themselves.
Where to go and call. The general number 112, fire service 113, ambulance 118 and 119, with a list of numbers in our guide to emergency numbers. Hospitals with round-the-clock admission by area are collected in a separate guide. We did not check whether a particular hospital has antivenom in stock, so call ahead and on the way.
A snake in the house. Firefighters and rescuers of Damkar (Dinas Pemadam Kebakaran, the fire service) come out for snakes; Detik Bali described this for Badung, where the Damkar post in Seminyak responds to snakes. Call 113 or 112 and give the exact address. Advice from the outlets: do not approach the snake, do not try to catch it, take children and animals out and wait for the crew.
Jellyfish. The ANZCOR guideline (Australia and New Zealand, June 2025) for tropical waters advises: take the person out of the water, if breathing stops start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pour vinegar over the stung place for 30 seconds, carefully remove the tentacles and call an ambulance. Do not rinse with fresh water and do not rub the place. Symptoms can appear up to 40 minutes later, so watch the person. An emergency doctor in an Antara 2018 article advises vinegar or a baking soda solution and calls hot water a mistake.
Sea urchins, centipedes, scorpions. According to a Kompas article, a BRIN researcher advises an acid such as vinegar to neutralise the venom and not pulling out the spines. For a centipede bite Detik Jateng, citing foreign medical publications, advises washing the place with soap and water, applying ice for 10 minutes, and seeing a doctor for facial swelling, difficulty breathing, signs of infection or if it is no better after 48 hours. On scorpions we found no reliable source and write nothing. Our general rule: if besides pain there is weakness, numbness, shortness of breath or the wound is inflamed, you need a doctor.
Rabies. Bites from dogs, cats and monkeys require vaccination, with the procedure in our guide to bites and rabies.
What this means for you. When going out in the evening along a path or through grass, take a torch and proper shoes, and do not put your hands into thick greenery or under stones. Save 112 and 113 in your phone and find a hospital with round-the-clock admission near your home. After a bite follow the six steps: rest, a splint, no cuts or tourniquets, and straight to hospital. Do not fight a snake in the house, call the firefighters.