These snakes should not be kept as pets and should only be kept by individuals with extensive training and for research purposes.

I disagree, I think that a valid, serious interest, coupled with EXTENSIVE experience and preparation is what is needed. To say that only facilities and researchers should have access to venomous snakes is absurd, most of what they have learned was taught to them by private keepers, private keepers have more success with animals because they devote most of their time and money to care for them, where zoos and such treat them as attractions, when one dies they simply order up another one from a breeder or importer. Ive seen "professionals" from AZA accredited zoos kill snakes while assisting with a news photo shoot, the dummy put them in a CLOSED 5 gallon bucket on a hot sunny day, it was in the shade but the temp in the shade was over 105 degrees, some "professional". I told him twice that it was too hot, since I am only a volunteer I was not taken seriously, he was quite embarrased when he opened up one of the buckets to film a speckled rattler and it was in the final stages of a VERY unpleasant death. It was one of the few times I hated being right.
When someone dies from a "venomoid" bite that will be the end of it, no vet will risk the liability, and no herper in his right mind will risk "coat hanger" surgery.

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