Adventurous holidaymakers are often keen to immerse themselves in local culture, whether that’s by trekking through the wilderness to spot exotic wildlife or meandering through bustling cities to admire historic architecture and visit museums.
We all know the drill when it comes to safety abroad: steer clear of potentially poisonous creatures and unknown plants to avoid any nasty surprises. However, some travellers seem to miss the memo on this sage advice.
In a shocking incident in Spain, a tourist narrowly escaped death after picking up a “dangerous” snake for a photo opportunity. In light of World Snake Day today (July 16), let this serve as a stark warning against such behaviour.
The tourist took to Reddit to share an image of the snake, seeking identification from the What Is This Snake community. He claimed the snake “seemed cool” and assumed it was “harmless” because he “grabbed it” for a snap and it remained “very calm”.
Commenters were quick to chastise him for his actions, pointing out how fortunate he was not to have been bitten. The snake in question was identified as an asp, also known as an asp viper or European asp.
Asp bites are notoriously more dangerous than those from a European adder, which is the only venomous snake native to the UK, and untreated bites have a fatality rate of around 4%.
One individual warned: “Wait, you grabbed him?! Don’t do that again! I’m very glad he was calm, but that was not a safe thing to do!” Another chimed in with praise but caution: “Beautiful picture! Not worth the price you could’ve paid, but still a gorgeous photo nonetheless.”
A third commenter advised: “He is very cool but not harmless! Please be more careful next time. Glad you weren’t hurt, but this could’ve gone very badly.”
According to A-Z Animals, asps are typically found in hilly regions, scrublands, woodlands, and lower mountain slopes. Despite their association with ancient Egyptian culture, they are not indigenous to Egypt but are most commonly seen in countries like France, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.
Their website advises: “If you meet an asp, do not approach it. Back away slowly, and wait for the snake to move away. This snake is not aggressive, and it is likely to simply run away if you don’t agitate it.”
They also describe the asp’s distinctive warning behaviour: “Asps have a characteristic warning sign. They curl their tail into a circle, stretch the front part of their body upward, and then hiss loudly before they strike.”
The experts highlight that while asps can inflict fatal bites if not treated, they more often administer a “dry bite”, which inflicts pain without releasing venom.
They cautioned: “This snake is highly venomous. The asp’s bite is very painful, and an untreated bite can be fatal. Symptoms of an asp bite begin with sharp pain, then swelling and bruising occur. The venom can cause a rapid degradation of blood vessels, which leads to issues with vision.
“It’s important to note, however, that asps typically deliver a ‘dry bite’ which is a bite that doesn’t inject poison. While very painful, this is not life-threatening. Only a very frightened asp will deliver a venomous bite.”
What to do if you’re bitten by an asp
Though asps are not indigenous to the UK, if you’re bitten while on holiday, it’s crucial to seek medical help at once. Antivenoms for their venom exist, but neglecting treatment could result in dire consequences.
Follow these steps:
- Keep the victim calm. Getting agitated will increase the heart rate and worsen the problem by circulating the venom more rapidly.
- Remove anything that might constrict the area where the bite happened.
- Use a bandage and splint to immobilise the limb.
- Do not allow the victim to eat or drink anything, even water. It’s important to keep their metabolism low.
- Do not cover the bite. Clean the wound location with an antiseptic.
- Get the victim to a hospital as soon as possible. Using an antivenom serum is the only way to treat asp bites.
Do not:
- Apply ice to the bite.
- Cut or slice the wound to release the poison.
- Suck the venom out with your mouth.
- Use suction devices to suck the venom out of the puncture mark. These devices are ineffective because their fang injects the venom deeply into tissue.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk