The silver-ringed snake is China's national second-grade protected animal and an Appendix II species of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Mainly found in southern China and Southeast Asia, the silver-ringed snake has long been threatened by overhunting and illegal trade because of the high commercial value of its skin.

To protect the silver-ringed snake as a rare species, the Chinese government has taken a series of measures, including strengthening regulation, banning illegal hunting and trade, and establishing protected areas.