Exotic Incident #94
Incident Date:
02/01/1996
Location:
Hagerstown, MD - USA
Facility Name:
Facility Type:
Exotic Pet (E)
Incident Category:
Escape/Attack resulting in human injury (HI)
Species:
Reptiles
Animal:
Gabon Viper
Animal disposition:
Dead
Summary:
A 28-year-old man was rushed to the hospital after being bitten by his “pet” Gabon viper. The man was giving the snake some water and was moving the bowl toward the snake when it attacked. The man was treated with antivenin and underwent surgery to repair severe damage to his hand. At the time of the incident, the man was president of the Western Maryland Herpetological Society. The snake was subsequently destroyed. This incident was one of several dangerous snakebites that occurred in the Washington, DC area in past 10 years.
Action take by Born Free USA:
Notes: