San Diego Zookeeper Bitten By African Bush Viper With No Antivenom Treatment

A wildlife care specialist at the San Diego Zoo was hospitalized Monday after being bitten by a venomous snake. The zoo employee was said to have been caring for an African bush viper that was contained in a non-public area.

According to Fox News, the specialist was taken to the hospital for evaluation and medical care however the employee’s condition was not immediately disclosed. "In keeping with our protocols, the staff member was immediately taken to a hospital for evaluation and medical care, and we remain in close contact," the zoo management said.

The African bush viper, scientifically known as Atheris squamigera, is native to parts of western and central Africa. They are mainly arboreal and prefer tropical rainforests and are typically found far from human settlements.

These specific reptiles are carnivorous, and primarily eat small rodents. They also prey on birds, frogs, and small reptiles. African bush vipers are known to ambush predators, and commonly strike their prey while hanging upside down from a tree limb. They are commonly called green vipers, but also come in variations of red, orange, gray, yellow, black, blue, olive, and brown. They are also able to change color throughout their lifespan.

National Geographic says: “Their venom typically kills within days.”

A study from the American College of Medical Toxicology reported that a bite from an African bush viper can cause fevers or internal bleeding which can be fatal. Its bite is so venomous that its victim can experience severe inflammation, hemorrhage, serious kidney damage, disrupt blood clotting and flow as well as tissue death.

As if that was not scary enough, the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York said there is no known antivenom for an African bush viper’s poison.

In a statement released by the San Diego Zoo, they assured the public: “Although the San Diego Zoo cares for a number of venomous reptiles, incidents like this are very rare. The snake was contained at all times with no risk of an escape.”