A Sedgwick County Zoo Amphibian & Reptile keeper was grazed by the strike of a venomous Kanburi pit viper during routine feeding today.
A zoo spokesperson said the snake was being fed with feeding tongs when it grazed the zookeeper’s finger.
The zookeeper was admitted to the hospital for observation. Antivenin went with the keeper as a precaution, but at the time of this report none has been used.
Kanburi pit viper snakes are native to Thailand. Although documented to cause swelling and pain, bites from this species are not known to be life threatening.
Sedgwick County Zoo Amphibian & Reptile keepers perform animal escape drills and venomous snake bite drills regularly.
http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/113235274.html