Скачать или смотреть Snakes' ecological role

🎥🐍 The last video in a series of 15 short videos by the School of Veterinary Medicine, which began in October 2023, has just been released, focusing on the benefits that snakes bring to the global ecosystem.

🌞 Now that the weather has warmed up, snakes are becoming more active and visible in their natural habitats. They do not pose a danger to humans unless they are frightened and driven to defensive behaviour. Understanding their behaviour and ecological importance is crucial for peaceful coexistence.

Below are some characteristics of snakes that could help in better understanding them:

🔸 Defensive, not aggressive: Snakes are more commonly encountered in the countryside and generally do not seek to attack or harm humans. They will only do so if they feel threatened. Therefore, it is important to be careful where we step and place our hands to avoid surprising them.

🔸 Masters of pest control: Snakes play a crucial role in controlling pests. They hunt rodents, insects, and other small animals. They help to maintain a balanced food web and prevent overpopulation of these species, which can be harmful to crops and human health.

🔸 Contribution to medicine: Snakes have significantly contributed to medical science, as their venom offers potential treatments for life-threatening conditions such as strokes, heart attacks, and certain types of cancer. Ongoing research into the benefits of snake venom offers promising prospects for the development of new drugs.

🔸 Cultural symbols: In many cultures, snakes are revered and often depicted as symbols of fertility, rebirth, wisdom, and power.

🌿🐍 Let us respect snakes and nature, and through coexistence, protect them!