GUILIN: Choosing an unconventional path, a university graduate in China now helps run a high-risk family business raising tens of thousands of venomous snakes.
Qin, a 31-year-old woman, returned to her hometown after graduating to assist her father in managing more than 60,000 snakes,
Says reported.
She oversees about 50,000 five-step snakes, a highly venomous pit viper species, and nearly 10,000 cobras.
Her daily routine includes force-feeding and carefully handling the reptiles, work that requires precision to avoid potentially fatal bites.
Her father had initially opposed her joining the business due to safety concerns, but she stepped in as the operation expanded and the workload increased.
The farm supplies medical research and traditional medicine markets with products such as dried snake, snake oil and gallbladders, while extracted venom sells for between 40 yuan (RM23) and 200 yuan (RM116) per gram and large snakes can fetch over 1,000 yuan (RM580).
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Qin, who also shares her experiences online as “The Girl Who Collects Snake Venom” with 22,000 followers, said the pain from a five-step snake bite can be unforgettable and warned that anyone who claims not to fear being bitten has likely never experienced it.
