| Bangkok, Thailand is one of only two places in the | | | | an unexpectedly amusing time. The presenter |
| world that farms snake venom and creates | | | | was a Thai woman who, though articulate in |
| antivenom for people who have been bitten by | | | | English, had a unique style of speech. The whole |
| snakes. The other place is in Sao Paulo, Brasil and | | | | room erupted in laughter when she began talking |
| is called the Butanta Institute Snake Farm. The | | | | about the 'Happy Snake' which was projected |
| Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute and Snake | | | | onto the screen with a large mouthful of |
| Farm is located in the Lumpini sub-district of | | | | something which it was eating. |
| Bangkok on Rama IV. | | | | The first show stands out because there were |
| I am quite interested in snakes and have been to | | | | more snakes appearing than in the second show. |
| the Snake Farm show in Bangkok twice. I have | | | | At the second show there was some |
| visited Butanta in Sao Paulo as well, many years | | | | construction being done, and the show was |
| ago. I remember even now the chilling feeling in | | | | shorter and more cramped as a result. |
| Brasil of being six inches from the head and eyes | | | | The visitors sit down in a small amphitheatre, and |
| of a fully grown Anaconda. It stared back at me | | | | watch as various snakes are brought out to be |
| and there was only glass between us. | | | | viewed. The highlight of the show is the King |
| In Bangkok, we are spoiled for snakes. There is | | | | Cobra which, when placed on the ground, rises up |
| the Bangkok Zoo which has a snake house. I | | | | quickly to its full height as it is approached or |
| have visited this as well and there are some very | | | | poked with a special snake tool. A very brave |
| interesting snakes there including pythons. | | | | Thai man will move up to it in a sort of crouching |
| However, it is the Snake Farm which is the | | | | position with his knees extended as far in front of |
| subject of this article. | | | | his body as possible. I can only guess that this |
| I come from a country which has no snakes at all. | | | | approach is taken because, if bitten, it will be on |
| Once in a blue moon, a snake arrives in a crate of | | | | one of his knee caps, which contain a minimum of |
| bananas from Fiji, and lasts a very short time in | | | | blood vessels, if any. |
| New Zealand's climate. If it is still alive on arrival, it | | | | The Snake show includes a question and answer |
| is executed by a government department! The | | | | session. It turns out that after the venom has |
| country is regaled in the media about a snake | | | | been harvested from the snakes, it is injected |
| being found usually at a New Zealand sea port. | | | | into horses at a special farm outside Bangkok. |
| Photographs appear, if they are available, in the | | | | After a few days, the horses have built up |
| national newspapers. New Zealanders fear snakes | | | | anti-bodies to the venom, and some of the |
| as their knowledge of them comes only through | | | | horses' blood is subsequently harvested for use |
| the media, and movies. | | | | as anitvenom in many countries around the world. |
| I am terrified of snakes. I was sitting in Benjasiri | | | | Personally, I was most interested in looking at the |
| Park on Sukhumvit Road one night. From the | | | | Black Mambas cage in the Snake Farm compound. |
| corner of my eye I spied a wriggly creature | | | | It was fascinating to watch these snakes move |
| making its way between my feet. It was about 2 | | | | because they are the fastest snakes in existence. |
| feet long and I was petrified. I asked a passing | | | | They can move at up to 15 km per hour over a |
| Thai man, in nearly hysterical tones, if it was | | | | short distance and on suitable terrain. In the cages |
| poisonous. I was too scared to move. He came | | | | were a number of little white mice. In the time |
| over, looked at it, and told me it was harmless. | | | | that I was there, the mice were completely |
| We watched it together as it made its way | | | | ignored by the Black Mambas who seemed to |
| gingerly into a shrubbery bush. | | | | glide around the cage as it on a cushion of air. But |
| The two shows I went to at the Bangkok Snake | | | | the Sword of Damocles surely hung over them, |
| Farm began with a slide show of snakes. At the | | | | and I was very glad not to witness what must |
| first show stands out because it turned out to be | | | | surely be a very sticky end for them! |