Snakes have historically been feared and persecuted by people across the world. Sadly, these fears are often amplified in tropical regions, where venomous species and more common and human-wildlife conflicts are a constant challenge. Peru is a classic example of this, where local people share legends of snakes chasing people down trails and share these fears with younger generations, perpetuating misbeliefs. Not surprisingly, this results in many snakes, even harmless non-venomous species, being killed for no reason. Although it is true that most species of vipers and coralsnakes are highly venomous and bites can be fatal, the truth is that these snakes are actually very peaceful and only bite as a last resort. Bites that occur in Peru and across the tropics are often the result of encroachment into wild habitat or the careless clearing of agricultural land. When precautions are taken, snake bites are extremely rare. Producing venom consumes a lot of resources for snakes and using it means they are defenseless or cannot hunt for long periods of time. It’s only logical that venomous snakes don’t want to bite! Thankfully, through the combined conservation efforts of protecting land and educating people, the needless killing of snakes can be halted. Over the past year, all seven expected species of venomous snakes have been recorded within the @wildernessinternational conservation areas along the Tambopata River in Peru. These species are now protected there. In the coming years, we also plan to initiate educational programs to help teach future generations not to fear these amazing animals and show them that they deserve the chance to live their lives in peace! By @chrisketola #Ketolafriday #snakes #venomoussnakes #peru #rainforest #amazon #animal #wildlifeconservation #nature #natureprotection #natureconservation #research