Article: Venomous Snakebites: My Experiences as a Bite Responder, with Notes on “Famous” Bites

[findi]

Hi All,

TV personality Mark O’Shea’s recent King Cobra bite brought to mind the many experiences I’ve had as a snakebite responder for the Bronx Zoo. Mr. O’Shea survived, but venomous snakes claim a surprising number of lives worldwide (4.5 million bites, possibly 100,000 deaths; please see article below). Some bites, as you’ll see, occur in a most unlikely place –New York City! As is fitting for my fair city, few were “routine” – guns, odd characters, suicides, and drug dealers all made appearances. Read article here: http://bitly.com/QdDDRk

Comments and questions appreciated. As I do not place notices here each time I post a new article on That Reptile Blog, you may wish to check in periodically or subscribe; you can do so here http://bitly.com/JJNk9h. Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.

Thanks, Frank
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[Risky]

Thank you for sharing. That was a good read. I liked the one you wrote about Bill Haast as well. What a crazy guy!

 

[findi]

Thanks for taking the time to write..much appreciated! We won't be seeing the likes of Bill Haast again anytime soon, that's for sure...Best regards, Frank

 

[Najakeeper]

As a snake bite survivor, this was a very interesting read.

 

[findi]

As a snake bite survivor, this was a very interesting read.

Much appreciated! If you have a chance, please post a note on my blog (scroll down to end of article) - I know my readers would be very interested in learning about your experience,

Thanks, Best, Frank

 

[The Snark]

Good read. Thanks for sharing.

For myself, I'm leaning towards the practical and realistic. Venomous snakes were here first. Humans are the intruders. Protect the snakes at all costs. If humans die, so be it. We try to bail them out when we can but honestly, they are the ones causing the vast majority of problems in the world, not the snakes. 100,000 deaths a year is far more acceptable than several million deaths from starvation in a world with more than enough food to feed everyone. (Biting animals is a normal natural occurrence found in the snakes genes. Making Sarin nerve agents and so on isn't - unless that is a part of the stupidity gene).

I will admit it is very sad that many of the bite victims are innocents, helpless to control the circumstances that caused the bite. If only we could import the impoverished people of places like northern India to places like New York city where they can starve to death or die of exposure in a proper, acceptable manner. mostly free from snake hazards.

Keep up the good work, findi! Forgive my cynical tirade.

 

[findi]

Good read. Thanks for sharing.

For myself, I'm leaning towards the practical and realistic. Venomous snakes were here first. Humans are the intruders. Protect the snakes at all costs. If humans die, so be it. We try to bail them out when we can but honestly, they are the ones causing the vast majority of problems in the world, not the snakes. 100,000 deaths a year is far more acceptable than several million deaths from starvation in a world with more than enough food to feed everyone. (Biting animals is a normal natural occurrence found in the snakes genes. Making Sarin nerve agents and so on isn't - unless that is a part of the stupidity gene).

I will admit it is very sad that many of the bite victims are innocents, helpless to control the circumstances that caused the bite. If only we could import the impoverished people of places like northern India to places like New York city where they can starve to death or die of exposure in a proper, acceptable manner. mostly free from snake hazards.

Keep up the good work, findi! Forgive my cynical tirade.

Hello,

Thanks for the input; tough problems. I've worked on well-funded conservation programs in several countries over many years, and the same problems are always coming up. But, on a practical level, no program that places people at risk will ever go far. Same re blanket habitat or species protections - such works well in the US, but in most countries an economic benefit of some type must be provided to the people impacted by plan. Whatever we do affects nature and wildlife - the same is true of all organisms, each displaces or eliminates others in the course of surviving and reproducing. of course, people are better at wiping out species than are any others. Overpopulation is at the root of most environmental concerns, but, for a variety of reasons, it is such a difficult topic to address in many places. Well - no easy answers, but I'm glad you enjoyed the article, best, Frank

 

[The Snark]

A typical aspect of the problem. Around here almost every temple hosts several unwanted dogs. Were are talking at least a half million temple dogs and probably ten times that many strays. Then in the news every week we have a report of the authorities catching someone smuggling dogs. The animals are destined for the stew pot most of the time. So, the national pack and always carry a hefty stick when out in the smaller roads of the city unless you liked to get chomped is good and eating dogs is bad. Consistency has never been a human trait.

 

[Najakeeper]

Much appreciated! If you have a chance, please post a note on my blog (scroll down to end of article) - I know my readers would be very interested in learning about your experience,

Thanks, Best, Frank

Did so before posting here, it is the paragraph about the Montivipera xanthina.

 

[findi]

Hi Thanks for the info;in India, rabid strays cause a tremendous number of deaths; I didn't realize the dog situation was that bad in Thailand. Best, Frank

---------- Post added 09-11-2012 at 11:46 PM ----------

Did so before posting here, it is the paragraph about the Montivipera xanthina.

Thanks very much, best, Frank