BACK TO PROJECT
Snake Bite Anti-Venom Project Update
We are pleased to share a brief update on our recent introductory meeting with Thanda’s General Manager, Truman Ndlovu, and Donald Schultz from Snake Pharm. During the introduction, Donald spoke about utilising his knowledge for a possible collaboration in snake management and anti-venom production.Here is a recap of the process of how anti-venom is produced:
Here is a recap of the process of how anti-venom is produced:
1. Rescue Operations: Expert teams rescue snakes from residential areas, ensuring the safety of both humans and reptiles. No snakes are kept in captivity during this process.
2. Precision Weighing: Each captured snake undergoes meticulous weighing to determine the safe amount of blood to withdraw, typically 10% of their body weight.
3. Doppler Technology: Is used to locate the snake’s heart. Snakes’ hearts can move around when they’re digesting food. So, it’s important to find where the heart is to take blood from the right place. This technology helps us find the heart accurately, so we can collect blood safely for making anti-venom.
4. Plasma Isolation: The extracted blood undergoes centrifugation, separating the plasma, which serves as the vital component for anti-venom production.
5. Heating Process: The isolated plasma is heated to 56 degrees Celsius, a crucial step to ensure its efficacy. Failure to heat the plasma can result in ineffective treatment.
6. Freeze-Drying: Following heating, the plasma undergoes freeze-drying, facilitated by a machine supported by Lööf Foundation. This process enables efficient storage without refrigeration.
The project has already had a real effect by saving the lives of four dogs that were bitten by boomslangs, all thanks to the anti-venom given to them.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our journey toward safeguarding lives and promoting harmony between humans and reptiles.
Link to website, Thanda Safari
https://thanda.com/thanda-safari/
Link to website, Ndlondlo Reptile Park