Six members of National Cheng Kung University's Mountaineering Club were climbing the Batongguan Historic Trail in Yushan National Park on June 28. On July 1, when they reached the Talomu Stream northwest of Yuli Mountain, one of them—23-year-old Malaysian national Cheng Ming-yi—was accidentally bitten by a hundred-pacer snake. The group quickly reported the incident and called for help, but due to poor weather conditions in the mountainous area, the rescue team was not able to hoist him to safety until the early morning of July 2.
Dr. Cao Jianxiong, an emergency room physician from Taipei Veterans General Hospital’s Yuli Branch who was part of the rescue team, said that upon examining Cheng’s wound, there were no signs of redness, swelling, or inflammation, and that he remained fully conscious without showing typical reactions to a venomous snakebite. It was concluded that he was not seriously injured—an unfortunate event with a fortunate outcome.
Cheng Ming-yi, still shaken, said he was bitten by the hundred-pacer snake at the site of an old tribal settlement in the mountains. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, and the snake’s pattern resembled that of dead leaves, causing him to accidentally step on it and get bitten. A senior member of the NCKU Mountaineering Club, surnamed Hsieh, learned of the incident and immediately rushed to Hualien. He noted that this was the first time a club member had been bitten by a snake while hiking since the club’s founding, but fortunately, there were no serious consequences.
Hong Qichuan, a member of the Yuxi Fire Brigade in Hualien County, said that if there is no redness or swelling around the wound, it may have been a “dry bite,” where the snake did not inject venom, serving more as a warning. He reminded the public that if they see a venomous snake in the mountains, they should avoid contact and quickly move away. If bitten, it is important to immediately identify the type of snake and promptly notify the relevant authorities for help.