Venomous
reptiles in captivity will be the topic I am covering in this post. One of the
main debates regards the risk outweighing the rewards, as one bite can end your
life. In this post, I will talk about the various venom groups and touch on some
of the important facts that you are required to know regarding keeping venomous reptiles.
Several
countries have laws and regulations that relate to the keeping dangerous animals in captivity. Owners require a DWA
(Dangerous Wild Animal) license in order to legally keep them. Other countries
do not enforce this law and therefore you do not need a license in order to
keep venomous reptiles.
In
order to apply for a DWAL, you will need to enquire with your local council, as
it is they who supply the license. You must be 18 or over to apply and a fee
may be enforced. Please contact your local authority if you wish to find out
more information.
Back
to the main topic; venom. How many types
of venom are there in reptiles?
The answer is- there are a lot, but they fall under three main types.
NEUROTOXIC
This
type of venom attacks the victim’s nervous system, causing suffocation by
paralysing the respiratory system. This is quite common amongst elapids such as
cobras.
King Cobra |
CYTOTOXIC
Accounting
for around 80% of all venomous bites, this toxin damages the tissue and causes
necrosis. Death occurs by severe necrosis or blood loss. This venom is usually
found in vipers (such as rattlesnakes) and causes swelling with pain.
Rattlesnake |
HEMOTOXIC
Hemotoxins
attack blood vessels, disrupt blood clotting, and causes organ degeneration with
blood loss. This is usually found in snakes such as boomslangs and within the
viperidae family. Although there is no immediate pain, it still remains deadly
venom.
Boomslang |
If
you are not used to studying reptiles (especially snakes as they are the most
venomous in regards to species within the reptile family), then it is next to
impossible to spot a venomous snake just by appearance. There are a few that
are infamous such as cobras with their distinct hood, and rattlesnakes that
rattle their tail. However, some are not so easy to spot such as a mamba as
they can be confused with non-venomous snakes. Therefore it is important not to
approach an unidentified snake species in the wild.
According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the 7,000 - 8,000 people
bitten by venomous snakes in America every year, only 5 die. This rate is
higher in areas that medical care is less accessible such as parts of Africa
and Asia. This may sound high but when you compare it to dog bites per year, in
America, there are 4.5 million dog bites with twenty percent of those requiring
medical attention.
Green Mamba |
When kept in
captivity, there are certain rules you must follow when keeping a venomous snake. Most importantly, always use a snake hook
to handle your snake. This allows you to control the animal without it being
too close to you. If the snake is very long, use two snake hooks to manipulate
the snake so it does not get a chance to bite you and also does not escape.
When it comes
to venomous lizards, there are not
many candidates. Gila monsters and beaded dragons are the only ones that you could
keep as a pet (with a DWA license of course). The Komodo Dragon is also
venomous although keeping one of them is by far – too dangerous. Lizards such
as the Gila Monster grind their venom into the wounds of their prey, increasing
the amount in the victim’s bloodstream. Furthermore, their venom is produced in
their lower jaw as opposed to snakes that produce their venom in their upper
jaws.
Gila Monster |
Not
everything regarding venom is negative from a human point of view. Research
into the medicinal properties of venom
have achieved some promising results that can potentially help with diseases
such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and ADHD to name but a
few. Hopefully in the future they will produce a cure for these diseases
amongst many others. Additionally,
those who keep venomous snakes have
the ability to ‘milk’ them for their venom in order to make anti-venom.
In
concluding, if you are considering keeping
a venomous reptile, please do your research and apply for a DWA license (if
applicable in your country). I do not own any venomous reptiles myself but I have seen them up close in vivariums and can honestly say they are majestic creatures. If you come across an animal in the wild and
unsure if it is venomous or not, the best option is to leave it alone and walk
away; in that situation, the risk is definitely not worth the rewards.