Is the cobra a protected animal, and how to deal with a bite
As is well known, the cobra is a highly venomous snake. If you are bitten by a cobra and do not treat it promptly or handle it improperly, you may lose your life. Some readers may wonder: is this kind of snake a protected animal? What should be done if bitten?
1. Is the cobra a protected animal?
To state it clearly, the cobra is a protected animal in China, but only in certain provinces. For example, in Shanghai, Hunan and Guizhou in our country, the cobra is a protected animal, while in other provinces it is not. Moreover, because there are many species of cobra in the world, not all cobras are protected animals. The protected animal we are referring to here is only the Chinese cobra of China.
The genus Naja currently has about 20-plus confirmed species worldwide, but because of taxonomic disputes, a specific number of species cannot be clearly given. The distribution of cobras in the world is mainly concentrated in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Indonesia and other places. In China, Yongzhou in Hunan is one of the main habitats of the cobra. Liu Zongyuan's "The Snake Catcher" refers to the cobra of Yongzhou.
Today's cobras can already be bred through artificial farming, and in the last ten years the market has developed very rapidly, with breeding technology also becoming relatively well established. Cobra venom has considerable medicinal value, with a significant effect in pain relief and relatively few side effects. In addition, the snake meat of the cobra is very delicious after processing, so enthusiasm for breeding cobras is high in various places.
2. What should be done if bitten?
If bitten by a cobra, first of all do not panic, and do not engage in strenuous exercise, to prevent the toxin from entering the cardiovascular system along with the flow of blood. Medical standards are now quite advanced, and there is corresponding serum to treat cobra toxin. What we need to pay attention to is the initial treatment after being bitten, to prevent the toxin from spreading.
After being bitten, first of all use whatever is available on the spot to tie a bandage at the proximal end of the wound, to block venous return, that is, to stop the spread of the venom. Second, expel the toxin from the wound as quickly as possible. The conventional method is to first disinfect the skin, make a longitudinal incision 1.5cm along the fang marks, deep to the subcutaneous tissue, or make a "cross-shaped" incision, and use the hands to squeeze from the proximal end toward the distal end around the wound, so that the poisoned blood is discharged, then wash the wound with 1:5000 potassium permanganate solution. In addition, the snake venom can also be sucked out to prevent the snake venom from spreading further. After doing these things, go to the hospital for medical treatment as soon as possible and use antitoxin serum, otherwise it will still endanger your life.
Through these explanations, do you now have some understanding of the cobra? When outdoors, everyone must pay attention to various kinds of snakes, so as to avoid being bitten. In mild cases it injures a person; in severe cases it takes a life.