This is a story about a visit to the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute and Snake Farm in downtown Bangkok (Thailand)

1. Serpentarium Central
Blurb: A visit to the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute and Snake Farm in
downtown Bangkok can serve to destroy many snake-related stereotypes.
http://youtu.be/HItc0zPzHcw
Steve Thompson
Nine serpent deities are worshiped by Hindus across India and Nepal on the auspicious Nag
Panchami Day, which this year takes place today (August 4). Let's celebrate this occasion by
examining one of the Thai capital’s leading snake-related attractions, the Queen Saovabha
Memorial Institute and Snake Farm, which is located just a short walk from the Si Lom MRT
subway station and Sala Daeng BTS station.
If you decide to pay the Snake Farm a visit and the weather is excessively hot (or it’s raining)
when you arrive at either of the stations just mentioned, you can easily reach the Snake Farm
in about 10 minutes by taking a taxi to your destination from Rama IV Road or Silom Road.
Fountain of Knowledge
Visiting on a Saturday morning, we began our visit by touring an indoor collection of snakes
(located in the Indoor Serpentarium), which includes large living specimens, which are kept in
relatively spacious areas, along with some preserved examples, which are located on the
second floor of the same building. There’s also an extensive outdoor area (the Outdoor
Serpentarium), which features several more interesting specimens. The Outdoor
Serpentarium generally feels rather more 'natural' due to the fact that the living conditions
are closer to those the animals would typically encounter in the wild. At about 11 am, a team
from the Snake Farm began its presentation (see video footage [above]).
A Farmer’s Friend
As soon as the presentation began, I realized that there's really quite a lot to learn about
snakes. For example, in rural areas of northern and northeastern Thailand, there is a snake
that is considered to be the ‘farmer’s friend’, based on its success in controlling vermin that
could otherwise cause significant crop damage.
The presentation also included some very practical information and useful tips pertaining to
the correct steps you should take in the presence of various kinds of snake. I thought the
children accompanying me would quickly forget this information, or easily get confused by it,
but, fortunately, that did not turn out to be the case.
The end of the presentation allows children to handle a Brongersma Python, which the
helpful members of staff kindly assist with, as parents in the crowd get ‘snap happy’.

2. In terms of specific information, I will leave you in the capable hands of our guest 'cub'
reporters this week, who have produced two wonderfully detailed and factually accurate
commentaries based on their recent visit (see below).
Here’s wishing you a truly Happy and Auspicious Nag Panchami Day!
S. Chalee, aged 13, Charter International School.
Recently, my dad, my brother and I visited the Snake Farm at the Saohabha Memorial
Institute, which is run by the Thai Red Cross. On arrival, we went into a building which is
where most of the snakes are kept.
We saw many kinds of venemous snakes, such as the yellow branded krait, Malayan Krait,
Spitting Cobra and one of the most venemous snakes in Thailand, the King Cobra. We saw
many non-venemous snakes as well, such as the Copperhead Rat Snake. We also saw
some water snakes such as the Puff-Faced Water Snake. After that we went upstairs to see
some preserved snakes.
We concluded our visit by experiencing a snake show. The snake handlers showed us how
F. Phanuwij, aged 9, Charter International School.
to avoid getting bitten by the Monorellele cobra. This cobra’s eyesight is poor, so it detects
it’s prey by its movements so we should stay extremely still to avoid being ‘seen’ and back
Recently, we went to visit the Snake Farm at the Queen Saovabham Memorial Institute.
away slowly. The case is different with the white-lipped viper, however, since it can detect
its prey by sensing its heat, so if we see one we should run away as fast as we can.
When we arrived, we went in a building and looked at many kinds of snakes in display
cases. Many krait snakes are venomous like the Yellow banded Krait, Malayan Krait, Red
After showing us some non- venemous snakes, my dad took a video of me with a harmless
Headed Krait and many others. The Pit Viper Snakes are venomous, too, such as the
but huge python, which was wrapped around my shoulders. I really enjoyed this visit, and
Mangrove Pit Viper, Beautiful Pit Viper and White-Lipped Pit Viper. We also saw some non-
I look forward to visit it again soon.
venomous snakes like the Indochinese Rat Snake, Copperhead Snake, Red-tailed Rat
Snake and many others.
We looked at some water snakes, too. There were not many, so here is a list of them all:
the Rainbow Water Snake, Tectacled Water Snake and the Puff-faced Water Snake. After
that, we went outside the building into a garden that has some more snakes. Then we
went to a show.
A snake handler told the audience that the King Cobra, Banded Krait, Monocled Cobra,
White-Lipped Pit Viper, Russel’s Viper, Malayan Pit Viper and the Malayan Krait are
Thailand's most important snakes. The snake handler let us carry a Brongersma Python
around our necks. It was long and heavy but not slimy and I wasn’t scared. My dad took
photos of me and my brother carrying the snake. Then the show finished and everyone
went home.