DID YOU KNOW

Legends of the Rainforest`

of the exhibit. They’re an absolute dream to work with so it’s mostly very straightforward. We also use specialist equipment. For example, your typical snake hook is just one curved piece of metal. With a large heavy-bodied terrestrial snake if you’re only picking them up with one or even two thin hooks it’s putting an awful lot of pressure on particular points on that snake. So, we use very wide hooks to help spread that weight more evenly and make it more comfortable for the snake. Should we need veterinary intervention we also have clear tubes that we can encourage them into to get a closer look.” has had far-reaching implications for medical developments. Keepers that work in an official setting such as zoos or laboratories can contribute venom samples to schools of tropical medicine across the world. In some regions, this is more prominent. For example, Australia Reptile Park has had a snake venom programme since the 1950s and a spider venom programme since 1981. They have been the sole providers of terrestrial snake venom in the country and have since saved an estimated 20,000 lives. The more recent ‘spider venom programme’ sees them house over 2,000 funnel-web spiders to create important new medicines.

The name Lachesis references the second of the three Greek fates. In Greek mythology, Lachesis decided how much time a person has. This is a clear nod to the potentially lethal bite of the Bushmaster.

The South American bushmaster is the longest pit viper and the second-longest venomous snake in the world, beaten only by the King Cobra ( Ophiophagus hannah ).

Bushmasters are dedicated parents and will coil around their clutch of eggs to protect them from would-be predators. The incubation period can last up to three months. During this time, the mother never leaves the clutch’s side.

“They’re extremely calm natured. We have other species of viper that are more prone to show defensive behaviours when disturbed. Bushmasters, in my experience, tend to sit still and are obliging to work with. This can be disconcerting sometimes as, when they’re fed, they can be accurate with their strike.”

Working with venomous snakes

In the UK, a DWA (Dangerous Wild Animals) licence is required to keep front-fanged venomous snakes. However, local councils can also impose extra restrictions on zoos. For example, City of Westminster Council demands that the site also keeps antivenom available for the kept species. For certain genera such as Crotalus, this very expensive product expires quickly and must be replaced frequently. This has created challenges for even the largest zoos, including ZSL London Zoo. Daniel continued “we now focus our work primarily on EDGE species. These are animals that are “evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered”, and means we can prioritise our conservation efforts to focus on the most unique species on the planet. Although Western diamondback rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) are incredibly impressive animals, we had to invest a lot of money in their upkeep and so it made sense for us to exhibit a species which would benefit more from a conservation perspective instead.”

Although DWA-keeping in the private sector is an incredibly niche field, the development of husbandry practices as well as safe-handling methods

Here in the UK, captive-bred venomous snakes can help support international programmes. Collaborative research is helping to save countless lives across the world, especially in lessdeveloped countries. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 81,000 and 137,000 people are killed each year due to snake bites. In Australia, where several of the most venomous species live, just three people are killed by snakes each year (this number is similar in the USA despite several highly dangerous rattlesnake species being present). Therefore, international efforts to produce antivenoms that are accessible globally is extremely important.

In the Central American bushmasters’ native range of Costa Rica, huge strides are being taken to reduce snakebite fatalities. As a country which is perhaps more financially stable than most Central and South American countries, snakebites still pose a threat to both people and animals. At a 2016 WHO conference, Costa Rican officials outlined a plan to cut snakebite mortality rates in half by 2030. With international institutions learning more about the venom of the most dangerous snake species, this goal is much more achievable.

Daniel concluded: “Of the five juveniles that we had, two of them have gone to an organisation in the UK that works primarily with venomous snakes. It’s great that these animals can go on to help others learn more about Lachesis. Perhaps we’ll learn more about the venom which could have any number of pharmaceutical applications in the future.”