"Shiver" watching snake venom extraction

(NLDO)-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 Department of Logistics and Technology, Military Region 9) also known as Dong Tam Snake Farm is located in Binh Duc commune, Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province.

VIDEO: Dong Tam Snake Farm staff perform snake venom extraction

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

Currently, Dong Tam Snake Farm is not only a place to cultivate medicinal herbs, preserve medicinal plants, produce traditional medicine, and provide emergency treatment for venomous snake bites, but also a miniature zoo, an attractive place for sightseeing and ecological science research that attracts thousands of domestic and foreign tourists. This place is considered a unique and special tourist destination in Tien Giang province.

One of the tourist attractions is the snake farm with a snake venom extraction show. In a fenced-off area of ​​about 20 square meters, Mr. Hieu and another employee took out two bags of snakes, one containing poisonous snakes and the other containing non-poisonous snakes.

Dong Tam Snake Farm staff perform snake venom extraction

Immediately, the staff used a stick to control and catch a red-tailed green pit viper and squeezed its head to extract the venom. The tourists watching were all nervous because if the staff loosened their grip, the snake would turn its head 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 the king cobra's venom is 5 times stronger."

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

The snake venom extraction performance is a new tourism product that Dong Tam Snake Farm has recently introduced to visitors to disseminate knowledge about venomous snakes for proper prevention and first aid.

Tourists enjoy taking pictures with snakes

Tourist Bui Thi Diep Thao (living in Ho Chi Minh City) was excited: "This is the first time I have seen king cobras in real life and extracted their venom. It was very exciting and interesting. In addition, my children also learned about the physiological and ecological life of snakes and other animals to pet and play with them like special pets."

Dong Tam Snake Farm is also a place for emergency treatment for many cases of venomous snake bites.

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

At the same time, in December 2024, Dong Tam Snake Farm was voted as one of the 50 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