Snake Underground on NatGeo

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reptileKev81

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Just wondering, did anyone catch the documentary "Snake Underground" on National Geographic? I've never gotten into vens (yet) but found the show quite interesting.

I couldn't believe the fella who intentionally injects himself regularly with snake venom!
He uses venom from the black mamba, cobra, and rattlesnake on a monthly basis! I couldn't believe it!
Apparently, the first 6 times he injected the mamba venom he went into anaphylactic(spelling?) shock. He has been slowly increasing the dosage, and is building up the antibodies in his system. You see him inject a lethal dose of mamba venom, and all he gets is increased heartrate, some sweating, and swelling around the bite/injection site for a couple days.
I thought he was a nut! Still interesting to watch though.
And I thought the yellow Eyelash Viper was a beautiful animal.

I just wanted to see if other users saw it, and what their thoughts were.

If anyone here has usenet access and wants to see it, I can point them in the right direction, just send me a PM.

Cheers
Kev
 
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I haven't seen it but he is a nut in any case.
The late Charles Tanner underwent similar treatment under a strict medical supervision, the trial was conducted by the CSL and he successfully developed immunity to certain venoms (I forgot the details).
I don't know what this nut (Snake Underground) is trying to achieve but immunity against a snake bite (I guess that's his goal) is very unstable condition that needs to be constantly monitored.
Horses (in production of antivenom) can take it but humans can't, we are too small in comparison.
 
Oops, just realised i made a mistake. Its actually called "Snake underworld", not underground, sorry guys...
 
Haha was wondering why I couldn't google it. It's hosted by Henry Rollins. I'm definitely gonna have to get my hands on a copy
 
ohh man i gotta check this out, henry is not 100% human, like iggy pop hes got to have some machine in there to survive life this far ,
im off to search my Austar guide to tape this weird stuff
 
Did anyone else see it? It covered many other things too.
It showed one person with an illegal collection, who used to smuggle snakes into the states from everywhere. He shows a rattlesnake which he caught from the wild and decided to keep. I felt so sorry for that poor snake. Captive bred is one thing, but imagine being a wild animal, poached and doomed to live the rest of your life in a snake enclosure :(
Also shows the effects of a venomous snakebite. Shows this chick who got bitten by a rattler and the antivenom they were giving her was failing. All her leg and torso was swollen, and you could see the blood pooling under her leg, butt and back, it was gruesome!

It covered many topics and I thoroughly enjoyed it. And Henry Rollins as a host was an extra bonus, I hope they make more of them.
 
sooo, what exactly IS illegal in America nowdays? :D

but on a serious note, just looking through the highlights all i found were:
illegal smuggling into the US (so what's new?)
people who keep vens shooting up venom (bad rep if u ask me)
random statistics on how deadly snake venom is (d'oh? and i wonder if they highlight the husbandry involved?) :|

looking through the ways some people keep their reps there (courtesy of youtube) is disheartening, of course chances are thats a small population, but still...

regardless chances r i'd have a look through when i get the chance (after exams)
 
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