"Chilling to watch" snake venom extraction

(NLĐO) - Dong Tam Snake Farm is one of the attractive tourist destinations in the Mekong Delta.

The Center for Cultivation, Research and Processing of Medicinal Herbs (under the Logistics and Technical Department, Military Region 9), also known as Dong Tam Snake Farm, is located in Binh Duc commune, Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province.

VIDEO : Staff at Dong Tam Snake Farm demonstrate snake venom extraction.

Mr. Nguyen Danh Hieu (41 years old; officer of the Snake Venom Breeding and Extraction Team) said that the snake farm is preserving over 1,000 individuals of various snake species and exploiting the genetic resources of two rare and endangered species of cobras, the common cobra and the king cobra, which are listed in the Vietnamese Red Book. The majority are cobras, with nearly 700 individuals. The "leaders" here are four king cobras over 10 years old, 3-4 meters long, and weighing 15-16 kg.

Currently, Dong Tam Snake Farm is not only a place for cultivating medicinal plants, preserving medicinal seedlings, producing traditional medicine, and providing emergency treatment for venomous snakebites, but also a miniature zoo and an attractive ecological research and tourism destination that draws thousands of domestic and international visitors. It is considered a unique and distinctive tourist spot in Tien Giang province.

One of the attractions for tourists is the snake farm, which features a demonstration of extracting snake venom. Within a fenced-off area of ​​about 20 square meters, Mr. Hieu and another employee take out two bags of snakes: one containing venomous snakes and the other containing non-venomous snakes.

Staff at Dong Tam Snake Farm demonstrate snake venom extraction.

Immediately, the staff used a stick to subdue and capture a red-tailed pit viper, then squeezed its head to extract the venom. The tourists watching were on edge, as the moment the staff relaxed their guard, the snake would turn and attack.

Mr. Hieu said: "Each snake can provide 2 drops of venom, equivalent to 0.5 ml. One gram of cobra venom can kill 166 people, while king cobra venom is five times more potent."

Dong Tam Snake Farm is currently raising and conserving over 1,000 snakes.

The snake venom extraction demonstration is a new tourism product that Dong Tam Snake Farm has recently introduced to visitors, aiming to disseminate knowledge about venomous snakes so that they can take precautions and receive proper first aid.

Tourists enjoy taking pictures with snakes.

Tourist Bui Thi Diep Thao (from Ho Chi Minh City) excitedly said: "This is the first time I've seen king cobras in real life and even had my venom extracted. It was very thrilling and interesting. In addition, my children got to learn about the physiological and ecological life of different types of snakes and other animals, and they got to pet and play with them like special pets."

Dong Tam Snake Farm also serves as a place for emergency care and treatment for many cases of venomous snake bites.

Major Dinh Thanh An, in charge of tourism guidance at Dong Tam Snake Farm, said: "As of November 2024, the snake farm has welcomed approximately 150,000 visitors. In recent years, the snake farm has been awarded many titles by the Tien Giang Provincial People's Committee and the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, such as: unique tourist destination, safe tourist destination, and biodiversity conservation facility."

At the same time, in December 2024, Dong Tam Snake Farm was voted one of the 50 most attractive tourist destinations in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/video-rung-minh-xem-lay-noc-doc-ran-196250119151044914.htm