Deadly Snake 'escape' To Be Investigated

[Flashermac]

Two major wildlife bodies are investigating whether reports that deadly green mamba snakes had escaped from a flooded house are a hoax.

 

The National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department and the Zoological Park Organisation are examining whether 15 snakes really had escaped from a house in Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district.

 

The probe follows a report on Wednesday from social networking site Facebook that was creating panic and fear among flood victims in flood-hit provinces Nonthaburi, Bangkok and Pathum Thani.

 

Pimuk Simaroj, director of the Zoological Park Organisation, said it was unclear whether the report was true.

 

"We're now trying to track down those who posted this information on Facebook and we're also trying to contact snake sellers so as to obtain further information on the green mamba snakes," Mr Pimuk said.

 

The species is one of Africa's most dangerous snakes and the serum for their venom is not available in Thailand.

 

Mr Pimuk said there was no official record of this type of snake being imported into Thailand.

 

But the snakes might have been smuggled out of Africa by plane, he said.

 

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department and the Zoological Park Organisation yesterday assigned a team of 10 to gather first-hand information in the district. Nonthaburi governor Wichien Puthiwinyu has also set up a team to hunt for the snakes.

 

Mr Pimuk said the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums wanted to send equipment to help capture the snakes and Japan also wanted to send a serum antidote to counter snake bites immediately if the report was confirmed.

 

Nonthaburi governor Wichien urged people who saw the long yellowish green snakes not to try to capture or kill the snakes themselves to prevent snake bites.

 

Mr Wichien asked people to call the hotlines 1131 or 1362 so officials could send snake experts to capture them.

 

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri yesterday asked the Foreign Ministry to contact South Africa to obtain serum against the snake bites that is expected to arrive in Thailand today.

 

Mr Witthaya said the ministry has about 3,500 serum bottles for seven types of snakes in the country..

 

Zoological Park Organisation official Anupong Nualpang said he had received information that about eight people were being bitten by poisonous snakes each day during the floods.

 

 

 

BP