Victim critical; Cobra bites zoo worker

CEBU, Philippines - A snake catcher at the Cebu City Zoo is now fighting for his life after he was bitten by a Philippine cobra he had just caught inside the zoo yesterday afternoon.

Ronaldo “Ronron” Aventurado, 24, a native of Moalboal, was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center following the incident.

As of late last night, Aventurado, a casual employee of the city government who is part of zoo’s maintenance team, is still in critical condition.  

His breathing is no longer spontaneous, although his other vital signs are still normal.

CCMC acting director Gloria Duterte said the city-run hospital and other private hospitals in the city do not have antivenin to minimize the effect of the snake’s venom.

Giovanni Stephen Romarate, head of the zoo, narrated that while Aventurado and other zoo personnel were making a pathway inside the zoo at 3:30 p.m., a man shouted after seeing a snake.

Aventurado quickly ran towards the snake, which turned out to be a Philippine cobra.

Romarate said Aventurado was advised not to catch the five-foot snake because it is very dangerous.

“Ayaw kompiyansa, unya wala man mopatuo,” Romarate quoted one of his assistants who was with Aventurado that time as saying.

At this instance, the cobra bit Aventurado’s left wrist but he managed to secure the snake and put it in a safe place inside the facility.

“Nagsalig lagi nga maayo na siya nga modakup og bitin mipadayon g’yud. Nadakpan g’yud hinoon niya ang bitin pero samtang ibutang na unta niya sa aquarium, diha pa siya mapaaki. Kompyansa g’yud kaayo,” said Romarate.

Romarate had said there is no cobra in Cebu that is why he wondered where the poisonous snake came from.

According to Romarate, who is also a snake catcher, in any snake bite incident, they would usually make minor cuts in the area of the wound to allow blood with poisonous substance to come out.

He said they do not have anti-venom medicine as normally found in other zoos.

–With Liv G. Campo and Edwin Ian Melecio of Banat News/LPM (FREEMAN)