Project Sekong 2013: Our Answers To The Most Commonly Asked Snake Questions: Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, and No. For The Questions, Read Below.

Here are the five questions people most commonly ask us about snakes in Laos:

1. Are there a lot of snakes in Laos?
Yes. Many interesting varieties, big and small.

2. Do you encounter them in your work?
Yes. We see them all the time, because we work where snakes live. Hardly a day goes by that we don’t see a snake, usually fleeing from us as fast as it can move. If you don’t enjoy snakes you can still have a wonderful time in Laos because you can mostly avoid spending time in the places where snakes hang out.

3. Are the snakes poisonous?
Yes. Many are, but not all. Be aware that snake people prefer to speak of snakes as being “venemous” rather than “poisonous”. My favorite snake here is the King Cobra. It’s called the “king” because it eats other snakes. I consider it king because it can be so impressively long. Once, one crawled by me that was longer than my pick-up truck.

4. Have you known any one who was bitten?
Yes. Bitten by my least favorite snake in Laos, the Malayan Pit Viper. The MPV has an unusual habit. Strangely, it doesn’t readily flee when people approach. It just sits still and, as a consequence, gets stepped on more often than other snakes. I’ve learned here in Laos to never step over a log. There could be a MPV resting on the far side. Better to step up onto the log and then step well off the other side.

5. Have you known anyone who died from snake bite?
No. But I have a friend who was bitten and had to have his leg amputated. If he’d gotten medical help sooner, he might not have lost the leg. His village is a hot spot for Malayan Pit Vipers. He has an uncle who was bitten (and lived) and a brother who was bitten (who died).