Efforts to replenish the country’s anti-venom stock are now underway after a fire at the National Reptile Zoo in Gowran over the weekend.
It was destroyed in the blaze on Saturday, and one of their cobras was also killed.
A GoFundMe page has now been set up by friends and supporters of the zoo to help pay for the anti-venom.
The zoo’s owner, James Hennessy has told KCLR Live today, he’s personally responsible for the entire stock:
“I’ve a direct link with national poison control in Beaumont and I’ve an agreement with them that if there’s a venomous snake bite in Ireland, I’ll identify the snake, I’ll remove the snake and I’ll also supply the anti-venom.
“So we’re going to start eking it back in as we can afford it. It’s basically my private medication so I’m paying for it. I’ve had people say to me that the state need to be funding it and it’s a waste of money and stuff, but the state aren’t funding it. I’m funding it. It’s about €5,000 – and that’s just for the back-up stock.”
James says it’s an unusual situation because no-one’s ever been bitten by a venomous snake in Ireland but there are a lot of people who have venomous snakes as private pets in this country:
“It’s ridiculous but there’s no legislation stopping anybody owning a venomous snake.
“So you could have a house in Carlow, or a house in Cork and somebody has a pet snake in it that’s venomous, and they’re breaking no law. They have no access to anti-venom. It’s ludicrous.
“Over the last two decades I’ve been on to various departments but because it hasn’t been an issue yet, everyone’s just kind of pushing it under the carpet as such.”
