How the Thai Red Cross is operating the second snake farm in the world

Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute (QSMI), Thai Red Cross Society is the second snake farm in the world and the first snake farm in Asia. This is the only Red Cross snake farm in the world.

The tropical climate and rich environment of Thailand provides for a wide variety of snakes – venomous and non-venomous ones. This is why people have learnt how to live with snakes. 

However, many people in Thailand were bitten by snakes, especially venomous snakes. The snakebite patient treatment became one of the most significant public health problem in Thailand. This is because, at that time, there was no antivenom in Thailand and the imported antivenom cannot apply for healing snakebite patient in country. The best way to solution this problem is to cure the patient by using antivenom which is made by local snake venom. Therefore, Snake Farm, QSMI is originally established to be the first place for producing the antivenom to treat a snakebite patient in Thailand on November 22, 1923 by Dr. Leopold Robert who is the first director of QSMI.

The Snake Farm is currently operating 3 main tasks which are to take care of snakes to give quality venom or producing the antivenom to treat snakebite patient, to give accurately about general snake information including venomous and non-venomous snake, snake venom, and snakebite first aids, and to study about snakes and snake venom.

Nowadays, Snake Farm, QSMI has standard checkup and take good care of snakes by veterinarians, scientist, and snake holders who are professional and have work experience about snakes. This is the reason why now we can collect the quality snake venom from the healthy venomous snakes to produce the antivenom. There are 7 types of monovalent antivenoms for King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), Monocellate Cobra (Naja kaouthia), Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus), Malayan Krait (Bungarus candidus), Malayan Pit Viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma), Siamese Russell’s Viper (Daboia siamensis), and White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) and 2 types of polyvalent antivenoms for neurotoxin and hematotoxin. Moreover, we have a new one section “the Reptile Science Clinic”, the first official reptile clinic in Thailand where is the place to treat for groups of reptiles from general publics by Snake Farm, QSMI’s veterinary specialists.

Snake Farm have Snake Museum where consists of indoor and outdoor serpentarium, snake shows which are venom extraction show and snake handling show, snake handling course and international snake handling course to give the information about snakes, snake venom, snakebite first aids, and useful techniques for dealing with snakes to the general publics and tourists both Thai and foreigners. Furthermore, Snake Farm is also doing research about snakes and snake venom in coordination with inside and outside the organization that we are certified by WHO Collaborating Center for Venomous Snake Toxicology and Research.

Snake Farm, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute (QSMI), Thai Red Cross Society 

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday (except public holidays) 

09:30 AM to 03:30 PM

Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays

09:30 AM to 01:00 PM

Showtimes

Monday to Friday (except public holidays) 

11:00 AM Venom extraction show

02:00 PM Snake handling show

Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays

11:00 AM Snake handling show

 

Reptile Science Clinic

Opening Hours

Monday to Friday (except public holidays) 

09:30 AM to 03:00 PM