National Serpent Day: Slink into Reptile World Serpentarium to see snakes
Though visitors are behind the glass, a distinct rattle sound can be heard from the lab at Reptile World Serpentarium.
Two men stand around the crate. One quickly opens the lid and grabs the Eastern diamondback rattlesnake’s tail as the other uses a hook and then his hand to secure the snake’s head, bringing the reptile over to a beaker. In an instant, the serpent lashes out at the glass, reveals its fangs and expels its venom into the receptacle.
This is part of the venom demonstration at the reptile zoo, the main event offered at noon and 3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.
Part research center and part attraction, Reptile World Serpentarium is home to more than 75 species of snakes, making it the perfect pitstop on National Serpent Day: Feb. 1.
George Van Horn, Reptile World’s owner and director of operations, founded the “serpentarium” in 1972 as a research facility for the production and distribution of snake venom.
Thinking that someday the venom business would be obsolete, he wanted to increase his company’s longevity by also offering educational opportunities to the public.
Reptile World’s venom show teaches guests about snakes — especially the 35 species indigenous to Florida — and reveals how Van Horn and his employees milk venom from four varieties of serpents.
During the speech portion, Van Horn debunks myths — snakes don’t chase people, he said.
He shared serpent facts, including that these creatures have been around about 130 million years longer than humans; serpents are like “fast food” for wild animals, as they have no arms or legs and very few self-defense mechanisms; snake neurotoxins are some of the most potent natural toxins; and Reptile World can’t treat bites — so head to the hospital instead, but get ready for a bill averaging $100,000-$250,000 for snake bite treatment.
In addition to the demonstration, the serpentarium also features walk-through snake exhibits as well as crocodile, alligator, iguanas, turtles and more.
Van Horn said he had a “passionate interest in snakes” from the age 6.
“You don’t get interested, you just are,” he said. “You don’t know where it comes from.”
On a Cub Scout field trip to the Miami Serpentarium, he found his calling. He said he saw an employee working with snakes, discovered the science of venom and “was pretty much cooked at that point.”
After graduating from Florida Atlantic University, Van Horn secured some land in St. Cloud from a dairy farmer and began work on his own reptile zoo, modeling the facility after the Miami Serpentarium.
Most of Reptile World’s clients are universities and research facilities that use snake venom in their physiology research, though his facility also works with companies that produce antivenom for North America. For example, he sends coral snake venom to Pfizer, which makes antivenom used in United States hospitals.
Van Horn said serpents “often get the bad end of the stick,” but he thinks the creatures are beautiful with unique structures.
“There are many other animals in the world that are able to use venom to secure prey, but snakes are extremely efficient in what they do,” he said.
Plus, he said there are a variety of snakes, from seas snakes to flying and blind snakes, that provides for a “lifetime of learning.”
“I never run out of things to learn about these creatures,” he said.
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2019
Originally Posted by Deborah
