International holidays - World Snake Day

The culture of the peoples of South America, Africa and Asia is characterized by an attitude towards reptiles as sacred animals The snake is traditionally considered a symbol of wisdom and immortality Despite their menacing appearance, pythons, cobras and black mambas play an important role in their habitat ecosystems, controlling populations of birds, rats and mice Some wildlife lovers even keep representatives of the colubrid and viper families at home July 16th is World Snake Day The origins of World Snake Day are unknown The holiday was invented to raise people's awareness of representatives of reptiles, the most ancient remains of which serpentologists date back to the Jurassic period of the Mesozoic era Snakes lived on Earth more than 167 million years ago Today, over 3,200 species of reptiles are known, which occupy an intermediate position between birds, mammals and amphibians Man has learned to coexist with snakes and even use them to his advantage The venom of cobra, viper, viper and sand epha is used in the production of cosmetics, laboratory reagents, painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications in the form of ointments and injections Pharmacological agents are used to treat diseases of the peripheral nervous system, rheumatism, osteochondrosis, diabetes mellitus and other pathologies In some Russian villages, snakes are fed the old fashioned way, lured into houses and barns to kill rodents The largest representatives of reptiles are anacondas and reticulated pythons, the length of which reaches 6 meters The smallest are Barbados narrow-mouthed snakes with a body no more than 10 cm Cobras, unlike their other counterparts, can be trained, so they participate in spectacular and sometimes blood-curdling performances of street yogis and circus performers Traditionally, part of the performance is the mesmerizing dance of a poisonous snake to the tune of a fakir Rainbow boas, corn snakes and royal pythons are on the list of pets not only for residents of South Asia, but also for Central Russia In Thailand, China, Vietnam and Malaysia, snakes are used to prepare both first and second courses Their meat is eaten stewed, boiled and fried, grilled or deep-fried In addition, in China they drink snake blood and eat reptile skin Historians claim that until the 18th century Viper meat was very popular in France - pharmacists and doctors used it to make rejuvenating and healing potions World Snake Day is a good occasion to remind people of the benefits that these reptiles bring to people Serpantologists remind us that reptiles are needed not only to protect grain reserves, but also to protect crops growing in the fields from rodents Although in some cases snakes cannot do this Rabbits that came to Australia in 1788 from seafarers' ships, which are not endemic to the continent, cause a lot of harm to people and nature Rodents are carriers of diseases and the cause of extinction of many animal species Due to the favorable climate and availability of food, rabbits reproduce at a high rate Neither the snakes living in Australia nor the hunters who shoot rodents can cope with the population growth Our ancestors paid tribute to reptiles thousands of years ago, and people still benefit from them today Thus, the skin of python, viper and cobra is a popular material for making shoes, belts, bags, wallets and other accessories But above all, World Snake Day encourages people to remember the significant contribution reptiles make to maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, and to do everything for peaceful coexistence with snakes in their habitats