Reptile Gardens expert weighs in on snake fiasco for CNN


A venomous snake expert from Reptile Gardens in Rapid City fielded a call Tuesday morning from a representative of CNN's Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.

The show was rounding out reporting on the deadly Egyptian cobra that is on the loose after going missing from New York's Bronx Zoo. Curator of reptiles Terry Phillip said he answered questions for Tuesday night's broadcast that will also feature animal expert Jack Hanna that airs at 4 p.m Mountain time.

"They did a Google search and apparently I was the first reference for venomous snakes," Phillip said, adding that he has in the past appeared on National Geographic, the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.

Phillip said the show was curious how venomous the bite from the young snake could be; Other media outlets have said the bite could kill a full-grown adult in 15 minutes. Phillip was a little less concerned.

"It's certainly a potentially dangerous snake, with very toxic venom," Phillip said. "But with proper treatment with anti venom, death is very unlikely."
www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_020baac8-5a39-11e0-bd24-001cc4c002e0.html

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