Venom in My Eyes!: Working with Spitting Cobras

findi

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Jan 28, 2012
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Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. Iā€™m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career spent at several zoos, aquariums, and museums, including over20 years with the Bronx Zoo[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
Working with Spitting Cobras has been a fascinating, if sometimes un-nerving, experience. In addition to being able to deliver venom via biting or ejection through the air, Spitting Cobras also have the alertness and speed that is typical of nearly all the worldā€™s 353 Elapid species. On two occasions, Iā€™ve had to re-capture a total of 6 escaped Red Spitting Cobras (Naja pallida) ā€“ once because a man helped his little son to kick in the glass of an exhibit at the Bronx Zoo! (please see article linked below) But despite these incidents, and decades of working closely with related species, the only venom to wind up in my eyes came not from a Spitter, but rather courtesy of a species that ā€œcannot spitā€ ā€“ the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox). [FONT=&quot]R[/FONT]ead the rest of this article here Working with Spitting Cobras...and Getting Venom in My Eyes! [FONT=&quot][/FONT]
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj and Facebook http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

My Bio, with photos of animals Iā€™ve been lucky enough to work with: That Pet Place Welcomes Frank Indiviglio | That Reptile Blog

Best Regards, Frank
 

RavensGryf

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Frank that's incredible!! What are the chances of having had the recent cornea transplant and not completely healed, when a freak accident of projectile snake venom (from a species who doesn't spit projectile) lands in the same eye :eek:! Thank goodness you came away with no damage!
 
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findi

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Jan 28, 2012
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Frank that's incredible!! What are the chances of having had the recent cornea transplant and not completely healed, when a freak accident of projectile snake venom (from a species who doesn't spit projectile) lands in the same eye :eek:! Thank goodness you came away with no damage!

I'd never hit those kinds of odds were I a gambler! Have a Happy, healthy thanksgiving, Frank
 

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