Serpentarium Central

Blurb: A visit to the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute and Snake Farm in downtown Bangkok can serve to destroy many snake-related stereotypes.

http://youtu.be/HItc0zPzHcw

Steve Thompson

Nine serpent deities are worshiped by Hindus across India and Nepal on the auspicious Nag Panchami Day, which this year takes place today (August 4). Let's celebrate this occasion by examining one of the Thai capital’s leading snake-related attractions, the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute and Snake Farm, which is located just a short walk from the Si Lom MRT subway station and Sala Daeng BTS station.

If you decide to pay the Snake Farm a visit and the weather is excessively hot (or it’s raining) when you arrive at either of the stations just mentioned, you can easily reach the Snake Farm in about 10 minutes by taking a taxi to your destination from Rama IV Road or Silom Road.

Fountain of Knowledge

Visiting on a Saturday morning, we began our visit by touring an indoor collection of snakes (located in the Indoor Serpentarium), which includes large living specimens, which are kept in relatively spacious areas, along with some preserved examples, which are located on the second floor of the same building. There’s also an extensive outdoor area (the Outdoor Serpentarium), which features several more interesting specimens. The Outdoor Serpentarium generally feels rather more 'natural' due to the fact that the living conditions are closer to those the animals would typically encounter in the wild. At about 11 am, a team from the Snake Farm began its presentation (see video footage [above]).

A Farmer’s Friend

As soon as the presentation began, I realized that there's really quite a lot to learn about snakes. For example, in rural areas of northern and northeastern Thailand, there is a snake that is considered to be the ‘farmer’s friend’, based on its success in controlling vermin that could otherwise cause significant crop damage.

The presentation also included some very practical information and useful tips pertaining to the correct steps you should take in the presence of various kinds of snake. I thought the children accompanying me would quickly forget this information, or easily get confused by it, but, fortunately, that did not turn out to be the case.

The end of the presentation allows children to handle a Brongersma Python, which the helpful members of staff kindly assist with, as parents in the crowd get ‘snap happy’.

In terms of specific information, I will leave you in the capable hands of our guest 'cub' reporters this week, who have produced two wonderfully detailed and factually accurate commentaries based on their recent visit (see below).

Here’s wishing you a truly Happy and Auspicious Nag Panchami Day!

S. Chalee, aged 13, Charter International School.

Recently, my dad, my brother and I visited the Snake Farm at the Saohabha Memorial Institute, which is run by the Thai Red Cross. On arrival, we went into a building which is where most of the snakes are kept.

We saw many kinds of venemous snakes, such as the yellow branded krait, Malayan Krait, Spitting Cobra and one of the most venemous snakes in Thailand, the King Cobra. We saw many non-venemous snakes as well, such as the Copperhead Rat Snake. We also saw some water snakes such as the Puff-Faced Water Snake. After that we went upstairs to see some preserved snakes.

We concluded our visit by experiencing a snake show. The snake handlers showed us how to avoid getting bitten by the Monorellele cobra. This cobra’s eyesight is poor, so it detects it’s prey by its movements so we should stay extremely still to avoid being ‘seen’ and back away slowly. The case is different with the white-lipped viper, however, since it can detect its prey by sensing its heat, so if we see one we should run away as fast as we can.

After showing us some non- venemous snakes, my dad took a video of me with a harmless but huge python, which was wrapped around my shoulders. I really enjoyed this visit, and I look forward to visit it again soon.

F. Phanuwij, aged 9, Charter International School.

Recently, we went to visit the Snake Farm at the Queen Saovabham Memorial Institute.

When we arrived, we went in a building and looked at many kinds of snakes in display cases. Many krait snakes are venomous like the Yellow banded Krait, Malayan Krait, Red Headed Krait and many others. The Pit Viper Snakes are venomous, too, such as the Mangrove Pit Viper, Beautiful Pit Viper and White-Lipped Pit Viper. We also saw some non-venomous snakes like the Indochinese Rat Snake, Copperhead Snake, Red-tailed Rat Snake and many others.

We looked at some water snakes, too. There were not many, so here is a list of them all: the Rainbow Water Snake, Tectacled Water Snake and the Puff-faced Water Snake. After that, we went outside the building into a garden that has some more snakes. Then we went to a show.

A snake handler told the audience that the King Cobra, Banded Krait, Monocled Cobra, White-Lipped Pit Viper, Russel’s Viper, Malayan Pit Viper and the Malayan Krait are Thailand's most important snakes. The snake handler let us carry a Brongersma Python around our necks. It was long and heavy but not slimy and I wasn’t scared. My dad took photos of me and my brother carrying the snake. Then the show finished and everyone went home.