I have a wildlife zoo

Chapter 183 The Experience of Raising Poisonous Snakes

In the morning, we discussed the design of the reptiles and amphibians exhibit's terrariums and the accompanying educational display boards. Fang Ye and the administrative staff chattered away, discussing and drawing diagrams until they were dry-mouthed.

After lunch, the afternoon brought special training for their staff provided by two experienced reptile keepers from Sanjiao Zoo,

and Fang Ye went to receive them! Continue your adventure at empire

Many reptiles can pose a threat to the safety of animal keepers, such as crocodiles, monitor lizards, large snakes, and venomous snakes.

Crocodiles and large lizards can not only bite keepers but also whip them with their powerful tails, causing the keepers to lose balance and fall. The claws of large lizards are very sharp and can cause deep scratches. Pythons and boas have immense constricting power; adult individuals can strangle large mammals, including humans.

Even if one survived strangulation, the sharp teeth could still inflict serious wounds.

The most dangerous are undoubtedly the venomous snakes, such as spitting cobras. Their venom can accurately hit small targets within a range of 2-3 meters. If the venom sprays into a keeper's eyes and is not treated promptly, it can lead to blindness. Hence, it is mandatory to wear protective goggles when handling cobras.

Most of the first batch of snakes introduced to the zoo were non-venomous. The venomous ones included only the cat snake and the green pit viper. The cat snake had not yet been transported over. Handling and restraining these venomous snakes would require additional specialized training.

Although he had previously exchanged information with reptile experts on the issues to be aware of when caring for these dangerous reptiles and had gathered some materials, caring for animals in a zoo was ultimately different from keeping them personally!

For instance, preparing antivenom serum is troublesome—it needs to be stored long-term in freezers at temperatures ranging from -20 to -70 degrees Celsius. For thawing, it must be placed in a 4-degree refrigerator to dissolve for a day before being brought to room temperature to fully thaw, and a 4-degree fridge can only store it for one month.

Therefore, individuals and some small breeding farms that keep venomous snakes generally don't keep antivenom serum. However, when a zoo keeps venomous snakes, it must maintain a long-term stock of serum and update it regularly.

There should also be drills and emergency plans for venomous snake bites, simulating emergency measures after a keeper is bitten, clarifying the roles of everyone involved, understanding the methods of emergency treatment, and the usage of antivenom, in case of unexpected incidents.

In the reception room of the office building, Fang Ye warmly shook hands with his guests, "Hey, Instructor Wu, Instructor Jiang, welcome! Lan Li, pour a cup of tea for our guests, please!"

Lan Li cheerfully responded, "Hey, sure!"

Then she went to brew the tea.

Instructors Wu and Jiang looked a bit surprised, as they didn't expect the director of Linhai Zoo to be a young man in his twenties; the director of their Sanjiao Zoo was over fifty.

They had also visited other zoos, and the directors they met were at least in their forties. They had never seen such a young one.

But they didn't underestimate Fang Ye for it!

Upon entering the zoo, the first impression was that the environment was much prettier than theirs, and the display boards on the Peafowl Lawn by the roadside were also professionally done, not following the same old formulas. These small details revealed the level of difference.

Although they didn't go in, they were told by the leading keeper that a beautiful bamboo forest housed red pandas. In the plaza, one could see the outline of a massive spherical building, rumored to be the under-construction tropical rainforest aviary, which was quite impressive!

This guy is too grand, a single exhibition hall must cost tens of millions, right?

Not daring to be too presumptuous, he stood up, bent down, and shook hands with Fang Ye in turn, "Zoo Director Fang, hello, no need to be so polite!"

Fang Ye sincerely said, "Not at all, not at all, it's only proper. Just by looking, the two Instructors are clearly experts. I've also heard about you from your zoo director. You've both cared for these dangerous reptiles for over twenty years, experienced senior staff. I hope you won't hesitate to impart your knowledge, advise and guide our workers more, and share some of your experience."

When treated with such respect by Fang Ye, smiles appeared on the faces of the two Instructors. Instructor Wu praised, "Zoo Director Fang is truly young and talented, managing such a big zoo so well-organized."

"Eh, thank you, thank you." Instructor Jiang took the tea brought by Lan Li, baring his uneven teeth in an effort to show goodwill, then nodded and agreed, "Yeah, yeah, the environment here is really nice. Working here would definitely be a very pleasant thing. If it were twenty years earlier, I would be fighting to come here."

This was not entirely flattery; they genuinely envied the staff who could work here!

Fang Ye's eyes lit up, "Instructor Jiang, you don't need to go back twenty years, we are hiring right now. Are you interested in changing places?"

Instructor Wu laughed loudly while Instructor Jiang quickly waved his hands, "Forget about it, I'm too old to be moving around."

Having worked at Sanjiao Zoo for half a lifetime, with his house and family there, and possessing quite seniority, how could he possibly move to a new city again?

After pouring tea for the two Instructors, Lan Li poured a cup for Fang Ye and herself too, sat obediently next to Fang Ye, holding the cup and blowing on it, took a slight sip, and listened to their conversation.

Although the two Instructors came to train the animal keepers, they couldn't possibly rush them to work right away. So Fang Ye prepared to chat first, and he was particularly interested in their experience with venomous snakes, asking eagerly, "What's the most dangerous situation the Instructors have been in when taking care of venomous snakes, have you ever been bitten?"

Upon hearing this question, although Lan Li was scared, she couldn't help but be curiously engrossed, shrinking her head, nervously gazing, hugging the water cup to her chest, and listening intently.

Instructor Wu laughed, "I am responsible for taking care of crocodiles and monitor lizards. For venomous snakes, you have to ask old Jiang!"

Instructor Jiang subconsciously wanted to take out a cigarette for a smoke but seeing there was a lady in the room, the hand that reached into his pocket took it out again, lifted his water cup and blew on it, then pondered and reminisced, "Of course it's very dangerous. Back then, it wasn't as standardized and protective as it is now.

In the many years I took care of snakes, I've been bitten more than a dozen times."

"Whoa~" Lan Li got startled, shivering like a little quail.

Fang Ye widened his eyes and held his breath too!

Seeing Fang Ye and Lan Li's reactions, Instructor Jiang laughed, "Not all were venomous snakes though. A few times it was pythons, biting only hurt quite a bit but didn't pose a big problem. The first time I was carelessly bitten by a venomous snake was by a cobra. I was scared to death back then, but luckily it just bit me without injecting poison.

After that, I became more cautious, always careful with protection during feeding.

However, after two years, I gradually let my guard down again due to some luck, and one time I wasn't properly protected during feeding and got bitten by a green pit viper!"