Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Bangkok (A.K.A. The Snake Farm…NOT really a snake “farm”)

I’ve always been fascinated with snakes, particularly poisonous ones. I only have one irrational fear (truly irrational) in life, and that is of the yellow-bellied sea snake. I had books growing up that were compilations of snake-bite survivor stories! Not only that, but I think it’s so interesting what the various venoms do to the body, and simultaneously, how they work so effectively on prey. It’s really such an incredible evolutionary mechanism.Then I read they do a snake milking demonstration session every day at 11am. SO COOL. SO COOL.Logically, they focus on Asian snakes, and produce anti-venom for hospitals throughout Asia. I can’t remember how many die or are permanently disfigured from snake bites each year, and I realize that in comparison to the myriad of infectious diseases, it’s really not many. However, venomous snake bites are still a concern, particularly for those in rural areas that are working/living in the fields or forests. The more venom that is available, the more chance they have that it can be acquired and transported (either the patient to the venom, or the venom to the patient).

They do have snakes in an outside exhibit, including a huge number of King Cobras in a sort of chain-link enclosure. Yup, the links are pretty close together, but I was a little nervous putting my eyes to the links. Not so interested in meeting up with a cobra.

Their inside snake exhibit is very well done, with a large amount of educational information produced in a very user-friendly manner. For example, we had fun seeing which snakes lay eggs, and which have live young. I think it’s absolutely incredible there is such diversity, not to mention the shiver that runs down my spine when I think of 50 tiny teeny little snakes crawling from a mother. Not something I’d like to meet, in the wild, thanks.

Of course, we were first in the front row seats for the 11:00am milking (which is held behind a glass enclosure, for obvious safety reasons). There were three King Cobras. Two were docile, apparently used to or resigned to being handled, and generally disinterested in what was going on. The third, though, was not happy. They knew in advance, as they are pretty damn careful even tossing open the lid of the Tupperware they were transported in. That thing was out in a split second, and not amused.

While I’m sure that there are some animal-rights people out there unimpressed with the snake farm or the milking in Bangkok. As a WHO center I trust that their focus is on research as well as producing anti-venom for public distribution, and that these snakes are in captivity truly for the greater good. They also appear to have a strong education mission. Just sayin.

So, if you are in Bangkok, it’s about a 15 minute walk (depending on the wonderful heat, obviously) from Lumpini Park. It’s just past the hospital, and you walk to the rear to the newer building of the complex. I believe it’s 200 baht per person for foreigners.