At Terra Natura Benidorm we have increased our bank of antidotes against venomous snake bites with the addition of a new antivenom. Specifically, the Inoserp MENA antivenom has been acquired, a powerful polyvalent antivenom serum that covers the attack of species such as the spitting cobra, the North African vipers, native vipers such as the long-snouted viper, very common in the Peninsula Iberian; as well as a great variety of European vipers.

With the introduction of this new antidote is possible to cover a greater spectrum of antivenoms among more species from different continents. The serum has been purchased to the Biopharma laboratories in Mexico. Now, Terra Natura Benidorm bank has a total of seven different polyvalent serums and more than one hundred vials created to combat the bites of pit vipers and vipers, blood-Asian vipers, neuro-Asian elapids, African vipers and elapids, European vipers and monovalent for pit viper.

This type of antidote is very difficult to manage because some come from South Africa or Central America where its conservation needs to keep the exact temperature conditions. Their high cost and the need to replace them every three years makes it hard to manage this type of substance. Even Spanish hospitals doesn´t have such a complete bank.

Terra Natura Benidorm is an essential part of antidote banks in the Iberian Peninsula. It has an internal use, as part of a prevention and safety protocol in the handling of poisonous animals and is also given to other authorized zoos which have these reptiles and they are even used to assist possible accidents that may occur in private homes which have this type of animals.

In case of a bite, the antidotes must be applied in a hospital after checking the patient. It is essential to identify the species that caused the bite to apply the appropriate antidote for his case.

Research to develop new antidotes

Terra Natura Benidorm collaborates with the Department of Toxicology and Structural Proteinomics of the CSIC in Valencia with the aim of developing antidotes and medicines through research on the venom of the snakes that inhabit this nature park and its ability to neutralise it through cross-activity.

Currently, the park has a population of 44 snakes of 27 species from America, Asia, Africa and Europe. It also participates in biomedical research, outreach and educational awareness programmes to combat the threats of these reptiles in their place of origin.