snake venom - a farm


previous next

snake venom centre - Tamil Nadu

snake venom extractors, Mammalpuram, Tamil Nadu

harvest what you have

There are numerous poisonous snakes in South India. Every year several hundred agricultural workers die from unexpected contact from these animals. Twenty kilometres north of the the tourist town of Mammalpuram is an enterprise that builds on this misfortune. Local people collect venomous snakes and bring them to this centre, where their venom is harvested. This illustration shows how. Each animal is harvested twice a week for a month before being released to the wild. Their venom is used to create an anti-venom that saves lives. We shall visit here to see something that is rare for most non-Indians.

Press the 'Previous' or 'Next' button to see more

Our next tour to South India is in 2010. Despite what you think, that's not so far away. If you wish for an informed and intimate experience of the culture of this region, check the page:

 Silk & Spice - South India  Feb - Mar 2010

Please  contact us to go onto our mailing list.

or
to gain an impression of our north India tour.

 

return to the photo page  from which this account originates.

site map   to the top

 


revision 29jun07
http://www.greenkiwi.co.nz/footprints/photo/ph0707.htm