Maintenance of snakes at Butantan Institute started in the last century,
intending to produce a different antivenom serum to reduce death caused by
snakebites. Through a successful campaign coordinated by Vital Brazil, farmers
sent venomous snakes to Butantan Institute by the railway lines with no cost.
From 1908 to 1962, the snakes were kept in an outdoor serpentarium, where venom
extraction was performed every 15 days. During this period, the snake average
survival was 15 days. In 1963, the snakes were transferred to an adapted
building, currently called Laboratory of Herpetology (LH), to be maintained in
an intensive system. Although the periodicity of venom extraction remained the
same, animal average survival increased to two months. With the severe serum
crisis in 1983, the Ministry of Health financed remodeling for the three public
antivenom producers, and with this support, the LH could be improved. Air
conditioning and exhausting systems were installed in the rooms, besides the
settlement of critical hygienic-sanitary managements to increase the welfare of
snakes. In the early 1990s, snake survival was ten months. Over the years to the
present day, several improvements have been made in the intensive serpentarium,
as the establishment of two quarantines, feeding with thawed rodents, an
interval of two months between venom extraction routines, and monitoring of
snake health through laboratory tests. With these new protocols, average snake
survival increased significantly, being eight years for the genus
Bothrops
, ten years for genus
Crotalus
and
Lachesis,
and four years for the genus
Micrurus
. Aiming the production of venoms of good quality,
respect for good management practices is essential for the maintenance of snakes
in captivity. New techniques and efficient management must always be sought to
improve animal welfare, the quality of the venom produced, and the safety of
those working directly with the venomous snakes.