Chen Yuanhui, a 77-year-old researcher, continues to study and protect the rare Mangshan pit viper, a species he discovered nearly four decades ago.

Chen Yuanhui, a 77-year-old researcher known as the "Snake Doctor," has dedicated his life to the study and protection of the Mangshan pit viper. Despite suffering nine snakebites and the loss of a finger to venom, Chen remains active in his conservation efforts for the rare species he first identified 37 years ago.

Discovery of the Mangshan Pit Viper

Originally from Guangdong province, Chen graduated from a clinical college in Hunan at age 19 and worked at a snakebite research center. After the center closed in 1982, Chen moved to the Mangshan mountains. In 1984, he treated a forestry worker bitten by a snake locals called the "little green dragon," which was described as having yellow and green coloring, a white tail, and distinct geometric patterns. Chen spent five years searching for the species before learning that a worker had captured a nest of 23 such snakes.

Legacy and Recognition

Chen’s work has been recognized by the scientific community, and he has been honored with a statue outside a local natural history museum. He continues his research and protection work in the region today.