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Fangs to Fortunes

Indian herpetologist Gerry Martin travels to the small village of Patia in India¿s northeast state of Orissa, in an effort to convince local snake charmers to give up the illegal practice of de-fanging snakes ¿ which ends up killing them ¿ and turn to milking and selling the snakes¿ venom for antivenom production instead. Gerry¿s adventure begins with a village tour of the charmers¿ deadly snakes. Cobras ¿Monocled, Spectacled, and King¿ are found throughout the village, indicating the charmers¿ extraordinary ability to handle, capture, and house India¿s deadliest serpents. But these snakes have been de-fanged. A venom extraction program would save the snakes ¿ and be more lucrative for the villagers ¿ but first, Gerry must determine if there are enough venomous fanged snakes in the surrounding countryside to get the program off the ground. Gerry, along with his old friend and fellow snake expert, Rupali Ghose, accompany a group of the village¿s best charmers into the wild where they struggle to capture some of India¿s deadliest snakes¿Monocled and Spectacled Cobras, and the world¿s longest venomous snake, the mighty King Cobra. With a little luck, and a lot of persistence, Gerry¿s plan should take off, creating a program that will benefit snakes, snake charmers and snakebite victims alike.

English
  • Originally Aired April 16, 2003
  • Runtime 30 minutes
  • Network National Geographic
  • Created February 28, 2011 by
    Administrator admin
  • Modified February 28, 2011 by
    Administrator admin