Taming venomous snakes to save people
Located on a land area of about 12 hectares, about 9km west of My Tho City (Tien Giang Province), on the north bank of Tien River, the Center for Cultivation, Research and Processing of Medicinal Herbs under the Logistics and Technical Department of Military Region 9 (also known as Dong Tam Snake Farm by the people) was established on October 27, 1977. This center was established with the purpose of scientific research, emergency and treatment of venomous snake bites for soldiers and civilians in the Mekong Delta. In addition, the center also produces traditional medicine, preserves medicinal plants and combines with ecotourism.
Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Danh Hieu - a medicinal plant cultivator at the Center for Cultivation, Research and Processing of Medicinal Materials - said that the center is currently raising and caring for about 50 species of snakes, including species such as red-tailed green pit vipers, golden pit vipers, and cat snakes. In particular, the center is preserving two rare snake species: the king cobra and the ground cobra.
Lieutenant Hieu shared that he has spent about 20 years taking care of snakes, so he understands the characteristics of each species. Taking care of snakes not only includes feeding and bathing, but sometimes snake keepers also have to extract snake venom to serve the work of making medicine.
Captain Bui Viet Cuong - in charge of the Processing Workshop at the Center for Cultivation, Research and Processing of Medicinal Materials - said: From the venom of various poisonous snakes, the center has formulated 14 medicinal products to treat symptoms in joint diseases such as pain in the knee, wrist, ankle, elbow, sciatica, back pain... In addition, there are products that help quickly heal injuries in cases of mild skin burns, dry, cracked skin... Currently, the unit is researching and improving the product Cobratoxan - a topical cream commonly used to relieve pain in cases of myositis, or muscle pain, often muscle pain due to exercise, gym, soccer, jogging...
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Hong Phuc - Political Commissar, Party Secretary of the Center for Cultivation, Research and Processing of Medicinal Herbs - said that each year, the center's emergency department for treating venomous snake bites handles about 1,200 emergency cases and treats venomous snake bites for soldiers and civilians in the Mekong Delta region and neighboring countries of Laos and Cambodia. Currently, the center is preserving over 1,000 individuals of various snakes and exploiting the gene sources of two rare and endangered species of cobras and king cobras.
Unique attractions
Dong Tam Snake Farm is not only a place to preserve the gene pool of rare snake species, but also an attractive tourist destination. When visitors come here, they will learn about the physiological and ecological life of snake species and be thrilled to witness the process of extracting cobra venom.
Major Dinh Thanh An - in charge of the tour guide department at Dong Tam Snake Farm - said that when visiting, tourists will be given detailed explanations about the physiological and ecological life of snakes by the tour guide team and their questions will be answered. In addition, the tour guide team will also advise on health-friendly products, suitable for each subject, produced by the snake farm itself.
"Currently, the center has been voted by the People's Committee of Tien Giang province and the Mekong Delta Tourism Association for many titles such as: Unique tourist destination, safe tourist destination, green tourist destination, biodiversity conservation facility... In addition, the People's Committee of Tien Giang province also certified the tourist destination as a 4-star OCOP and is currently proposing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to appraise the dossier to recognize Dong Tam Snake Farm tourist destination as a 5-star OCOP product" - Major An said.
According to Major Dinh Thanh An, from the beginning of 2024 until now, Dong Tam Snake Farm has welcomed about 150,000 visitors. In the coming time, the snake farm will continue to renovate the campus, creating a green, clean and beautiful sightseeing space. At the same time, the farm will also put into operation a number of new products to serve tourists. In addition, Dong Tam Snake Farm also continues to expand the market through tourism stimulus programs with domestic and foreign travel companies, with preferential policies, focusing on developing effective and sustainable tourism in the direction of tourism - education - school.
(Posted on the special edition of Lao Dong Xuan At Ty)
