Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis ) Venom Extraction at KRZ

[dutch1999]

Amazing. I would be terrified to be around a snake like this. I don't know how some people overcome their fear to be able to handle them. Seems like walking right on the edge of life and death.

[25thesnake]

nice mamba

[christiaan77777]

With all the equipment and mediation, but given the risk of thous animals. How "screwed" would you be if you get bitten by lets say a black mamba at your work?

[kyreptilezoo]

@christiaan77777 It would be a big problem, but we have a protocol and a plan for dealing with this type of bite.

[silverbulletgirl29]

@kyreptilezoo Throwing out your cobras, sea snakes/kraits, coral snakes, and boomslang snakes, & all the other snakes, which is the most dangerous according to the Black Mamba and the Taipan? (provided that Australia's King Brown Snake and the Brown Snake as well as its other snakes don't precede the Taipan in its venom's potency & lethalness.)

[kyreptilezoo]

@silverbulletgirl29 I think you mean is the black mamba more dangerous than the taipan? If so, I consider them mostly on par with each other.

[jeovaecorney]

@silverbulletgirl29 inland taipan

[goalie9579]

haha kill bill is on right now & black mambas are pretty hot. Not when they lose both eyes though.

[Earthdogbonzo3]

These are great vids! Venomous snakes are to be taken very seriously, and approached with extreme caution and focus! The handler needs a a good sense of time and dexterous coordination! Thank you for showing such great and educational stuff!

[flokurt]

Hey,

Just one question : What is the main difference between black mamba and green mamba? I know that black mamba don't live in the tree (unlike the green mamba) and have a more dangerous venom thant the green mamba, but do they have a very different behaviour? Do green mamba are less aggressive?

Thanks in advance

[kyreptilezoo]

@flokurt Actually, the venoms are not that different- both are highly neurotoxic. Also, there are 3 species of mambas that are green- East African, West African, and the Jameson's is actually mostly green too. East Africans seem to have the calmest nature of the mambas, but really all of them (including blacks) will flee if given a chance, they are just flighty and quick to strike if they are provoked.

[rarrokla]

I don't keep venomous but I am not as quick of hand as you pros are! Although I did get to pin and handle a Crotalus (whose mouth was NOT sewn or venomoid) recently and it was kind of a rush.

Too bad it happened at a crappy rattlesnake roundup

Ray

Rise Against Rattlesnake Roundups

Stop Rattlesnake Roundups YouTube

[kyreptilezoo]

@rarrokla You know, it is probably good that you get to understand a little of the 'rush' -- might help you figure out what is driving roundups to some degree. I always say I don't understand why roundups can't morph into snake 'festivals' where snakes and nature in general are celebrated instead of slaughtered..... but I think maybe now I do understand. There's no testosterone fuel from explaining why snakes are good and handling them gently, is there?

[rarrokla]

@kyreptilezoo The guy in the "Den of Death" in Okeene was walking around barefoot. I know some of this is about attention. I also know that I have someone from Okeene on video admitting that they are overhunted and importing snakes from Texas. I think PA is moving in the right direction!

[kyreptilezoo]

@rarrokla I have also heard that in places like Sweetwater with long running roundups they have to hunt a wider and wider area in order to get enough. Have you seen the stats where the snake size is also diminishing over time?

[thetasters]

I really respect what you folks are doing. The obvious risks you take are clearly outweighed by the lives your work saves. Good job!

[saj1982]

can be wrong but viperkeeper was always saing that taipans are much harder to handle - the venom is equally toxic, but they strike faster

[kyreptilezoo]

@saj1982 In our experience they are pretty similar in behavior. Taipans are also very fast and whippy, I don't think we would agree that they are more so than mambas.

[mvubu1234]

Small mambas get out the way, the really big ones - they tend to find out who is in their territory. Not sure how many really big mambas you have seen in the wild, but I have seen many on our sugar farm and they are extremely aggressive and imposing. Nothing soils underwear quite like a big mamba standing up and looking at you in the eye.

[HOLYDSFA]

What is the most dangerous venomous snake?

[kyreptilezoo]

@HOLYDSFA The snake that causes the most human fatalities is the saw scaled viper- we do have a video about them as well.

[lance1236451]

u guys where any protection at all

[kyreptilezoo]

@lance1236451 Technique is protection, as are tools. If you mean gloves- there are many problems with them, primarily that the material is not snakeproof if it is washed, and that they are not snakeproof anywhere there is a seam- which is a lot of places on a glove.

[theopat1999]

do you guys use midwest tongs

[kyreptilezoo]

@theopat1999 Yes

[sallick07]

Talk about balls of steal.

[wardenphil]

After the snake is worked up and mad from the milking process, isn't it a trick to get it back into its cage without being bit?

[kyreptilezoo]

@wardenphil Yes. Most bites occur when releasing an animal.

[libertarianjury]

These snakes have a bad reputation, thanks to a nature show on them that allegedly shows them defending egg-laying territory. Fantastic video. I respect the hell out of the work you do. My cousin caught snakes in AZ for venom protein research. Dangerous stuff!

[kyreptilezoo]

@ShadowXDDS It is clear when liquid and then white once it is lyophilized.

[kyreptilezoo]

I have to do 65 eastern's tommorrow.

[DanielLaNoue]

My experience with Black Mambas as well as King Brown's is that more often then not they'll stick around and fight rather then trying to get away... Who knows though I'm certainly no expert! I probably did something to make them mad or feel threatened without even being aware of it... I guess maybe it's bad luck?!?

[kyreptilezoo]

I always wonder how the snakes perceive things vs. how we see them-- perhaps the snake did not think it could get away. Also, sometimes people's perception is different too-- what I see as a snake trying to escape someone with less experience may see as aggression. We are so much larger than they are, its hard to see how we can avoid scaring them.

[kyreptilezoo]

Actually not very strong and nothing like a viper in power.

[smittysk8365]

i can't handle a venomus snake!

[Boasandpythons]

Now that's my dream job. Working around snakes. I love the work that you all do. The way that you all educate the public. Keep up the good work!

[kyreptilezoo]

We are hoping to put out more videos weekly. We had computer issues and were very busy this summer. Thanks for the comments.

[kypitbull]

i am so glad you are making videos again, i love watching them. I keep telling my wife "if we ever get out to Eastern Ky i will be visiting you all." (i live in Western Ky)

[Yoko761]

Great job! You need more mamba videos!

You guys are amazing! <3

5/5 Keep up the good work!

[YouWM]

Nice video! Quite an agile snake and not easy to handle... which snakes in your collection are the most "difficult" during the venom extraction process in your opinion?

[kyreptilezoo]

Jameson's Mamba and large lancehead vipers (Bothrops ssp)

[christophermchale]

youre the best!

[christophermchale]

please do more mamba videos.

[kyreptilezoo]

I plan to add about one to two videos a week. Next week it will be Jameson's Mambas just because you requested them. Take care.