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| Thailand,
being a tropical country, abounds with snakes of great varieties,
poisonous as well as harmless. Each year a large number of casualties
are caused by venomous snakebite. Therefore the Thai Red Cross
Society deemed it necessary to establish a snake farm to keep
different poisonous snakes for venom collection in order to
produce antivenine sera for treatment of snake poisoning. Dr.
L. Robert, the first director of the Queen Saovabha Memorial
Institute, received contributions from foreigners residing in
this country, and with the money collected, a snake farm was
built in the premises of the Institute. This was the second
snake farm established in the world and was officially opened
on November 22, 1923. The Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
constitutes the Science Division of the Thai Red Cross Society
which was formerly named Pasteur Institute. The main function
of the Institute is the manufacture of vaccines and sera.
The snake farm is
an attraction in Bangkok for tourists from all parts of the
world. It is visited by scientists, educational bodies and distinguished
visitors. Different kinds of poisonous snakes found in the country
are kept for venom extraction which is demonstrated to the public
at scheduled hours. These venomous snakes are brought in alive
by snakecatchers who are farmers by profession and they are
paid for at prices according to size and species.
Poisonous snakes
found in Thailand are Cobra, King Cobra, Banded Krait, Russell's
Viper, a few species of Pit Vipers and some species of Sea Snakes.
Numerous kinds of
snakes other than mentioned above, though common in this country
are not of importance to human lives because they are slightly
poisonous or nonpoisonous. Their bites often cause alarm but
generally are not dangerous. |
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| Features
of Snakes: By nature, snakes are not aggressive and will
attack human beings only under provocation. They see better
at night and therefore will not naturally be seen around in
broad daylight. Snakes have no external ears and are deaf to
sounds. A snake can quickly perceive the approach of a footstep
by the vibration conveyed through the ground with which it's
body is in contact. The tongue is an organ of smell.
Snakes feed on animals.
King Cobras live on live snakes. Water snakes live on fish.
Other species live on rats, frogs, insects etc. A snake prefers
food killed by itself. Once having fed, the snake will not require
food for days.
The majority of snakes
lay eggs and in general the vipers bear their young alive.
Snakes cast their
skin periodically, more frequently in the younger stage. After
molting they are very active and the colors are at their brightest. |
| Snake
Venom: A poisonous snake has two fangs, which are grooved
or hollow teeth, situated at the front of the upper jaw. Each
fang is connected by a duct to a poison gland behind the eye
on the corresponding side. These two poison glands are modified
salivary glands, the secretion of which is called venom. When
the snake bites, the venom is excreted into the fang wounds.
Venom probably helps the snake is killing its prey and facilitates
digestion.
Fresh venom is clear
viscid liquid and yellowish in color. The extracted venom, when
dried, forms yellow crystals which retain toxicity and solubility
in water for a long time, and is used for immunizing horses
in the production of antivenine sera and also for research work. |
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Questions &
Answers
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| Q:
Why are the men who handle the snakes for venom extraction not
bitten? Are they immunized against snake poisoning?
A: Snakes are generally not aggressive but they will
bite when provoked. In the process of venom extraction the snake
is handled gently by experienced men who are trained to do the
job with care and confidence. They are not immune by any means
and have to be treated with antivenine serum if they happen
to be bitten. Such accidents rarely occur and are mostly due
to carelessness.
Q: How often
can venom be taken from each snake?
A: Venom extraction should not be repeated until after
2 weeks or longer.
Q: How much
venom does a snake yield and how many persons can this amount
of venom kill?
A: The yield and potency of venom vary with different
species of snakes. By applying light pressure over the glands
the average yield of liquid venom from a Cobra at one extraction
is about two thirds of a gram in weight. It is impossible to
determine the exact fatal dose of snake venom for humans. This
average yield of venom froma Cobra is sufficient to kill approximately
50,000 mice or 1,000 rabbits.
Q: How many
eggs does a snake lay at one time and how long does it take
before the eggs hatch?
A: Number of eggs and incubation period vary in different
species of snakes. A female Cobra may lay 20-30 eggs. Incubation
period from the time of laying to the time of hatching varies
in different species. It has been recorded that it ranges from
40 to 136 days. In captivity the eggs do not hatch and the young
live vipers do not survive. |
Q:
Are Cobras the only snakes milked for venom?
A: All poisonous snakes brought to our snake farm are
milked for venom on arrival. Since Cobras are the most common
deadly snakes in this country, specific antivenine serum against
Cobra poisoning is in great demand and this is turn requires
larger amount of Cobra venom for teh production of Cobra antivenine
serum.
Q: How can
one distinguish a snake that is not yet milked from one that
has already been milked?
A: A snake that is not yet milked for venom will show
bulging of poison glands which are aituated just behind the
eyes.
Q: Is King
Cobra not more dangerous than Cobra?
A: King Cobra is the largest poisonous snake. A full
grown specimen is over four metres in length. The amount of
venom excreted on biting would be very large and surely fatal
but on dry weight basis Cobra venom is about 10 times as toxic
as King Cobra venom. However there has been no authentic case
of natural King Cobra bite on record in Thailand.
Q: What is
the most deadly snake?
A: By considering the lethal dose of venom in experimantal
animals and severity of poisoning in humans, Cobra is the most
deadly. In a fatal case of Cobra bite the victim dies in a short
time, about one to six hours. |
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Cha-on
Pungnam, 54, one of the officers and presenters at the snake farm
told Student Weekly about his job of milking venom from snakes,
“My job is to present the snake show. Once a king cobra bit
me in the finger. I was rushed to the hospital and the doctor
injected me with a serum. Unfortunately, two weeks later, my finger
turned black because of necrosis and had to be amputated.
Cha-on who has been
at the Snake Farm for 14 years said, “to catch snakes you
should learn their habit, must be sure in your movements and you
must be confident.” |
| The Snake
Farm is located on Rama IV Road in Bangkok. It opens on weekdays
from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and on weekends and holiday from 8.30
a.m. to 12.00 noon. It costs 70 baht. For more information call
252-0161-4. There is a show at 11 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. on weekedays
and 11 a.m. at the weekend and on holidays. Come half an hour
earlier as there is a slide show first explaing about the snake
farm, and then during the show afterwards, you can see them take
the venom from the snakes. It is not worth going to the snake
farm at other times. |
| Copyright
information: All pictures by Nattawud
Daoruang. Information from brochures obtained at location.
Additional information by Richard Barrow and Nattawud Daoruang.
RELATED
LINKS: Learn about the
Thailand that most tourists don't get to visit at ThailandLife.com.
Coming to Thailand on holiday or to work? Learn some Thai today
for free at LearningThai.com
and ThaiPhrasebook.com.
A list of quality web sites about Thailand can be found at SrinaiWeb.com. |
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