Field extractions when studying venoms of wild populations can be done . But for drug usage it is only a small window into the venoms. If you find something for a research project for a drug you must be able to repeat the same venom factor for the drug company. Releasing the animal removes this factor. Also for a venom to be used for a human medicine you must provide the closes to sterile venom you can. This can only be done in a lab and not in the field.
Wild Con is about show business and has little to do with real research. The public has no idea about venom so anyone willing to handle a snake becomes an "expert". The show likes to say this is not a stunt its my job then he jumps out of a plane. In all my years in the field and extracting venom I have never jumped out of a plane. I have been in planes that I thought I might have to jump out of but never did. Its a stunt just like being in a box filled with a few venomous and non venomous snakes. Ratings are the goal not education.

Jim Harrison

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