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I was on emergency at the University of Tennessee one night at 11pm in 1983 when I got a call from a Washington D.C. hospital. It seems some homeboys broke into the National Zoo and stole a Gaboon Viper. The homeboy put the viper in a gunny sack and slung it over his back while making his getaway. As you said, the Gaboon Viper has some really nice fangs and when the homey slung the viper a little too rough the viper bit him in the back. We had a Gaboon viper at the Knoxville Zoo and some antivenin. They flew a fighter jet from Va. to Knoxville and picked up the antivenin and got back to treat the homey. You can imagine the cost to treat this homey and the cost to the taxpayer for this little foray.

I don't like to be around green or black mambas because they are very irritable and a pain to care for in a zoo environment. The spitting cobras are also a pain in the butt to work with because one has to wear a welders' facemask or like item and it takes away one's peripheral vision and quickness that comes in handy when cleaning their terrarium.

Wow! However i have a quick question. Were they trying to steal the viper for personal ownership, bragging rights, or to sell it? And if they knew what a Gaboon viper is shouldn't they have known that those things have long fangs? And short fangs or not who in goodness name puts the snakebag on their shoulder!!!! Sheesh, that is like tempting fate.

I am amazed that they managed to save the person's life! Whoever organized the rescue must be one serious strategist ....even going as far as getting an airforce jet to fetch the antivenin! That is just amazing. He or she must have known what they were facing.

Some more questions. How come they found the antivenin in this case yet in the one surrounding the Ohio firefighter there was none in the nation? WAs it because in this case the person in charge of the rescue knew exactly what was going on and had connections? Anyways i'd say the use of the jet showed someone with great presence of mind.

Also were you there? And if you were i was wondering if you managed to snatch a peek at the 'victim's' wounds. The tissue damage must have been apocalyptic. I am surprised though that the person survived. Did the snake deliver a full bite or did it just graze him with a fang? The reason i ask is because Gaboons deliver prodigious quantities of highly potent venom, hence a bite on the back should have been quite serious.

Whatever the case dude was lucky. Almost too lucky. If i were him i would purchase a lotto ticket.