Interactions

Though Bamboo pit vipers are solitary animals, they interact with many creatures around them. 
Here's some examples of the Bamboo pit viper's interactions.

Interactions with other animals:
    The Bamboo pit vipers are predators to many small rodents and amphibians.  Predators to the Bamboo pit vipers are large mammals and birds, such as the peregrine falcon on the right.  How do the predators eat the venomous snakes?  Venom is only harmful in the bloodstream.  When ingested, the venom is degraded by the stomach acid, and thus the snakes are edible.  Most large animals of India do not have much interaction with the Bamboo pit vipers; the pit viper venom is not big enough to eat large animals and the Bamboo pit viper is not prey to most of the large animals. 

Interactions with Humans:
Fortunately for us, Bamboo pit viper venom is not toxic enough to kill animals as large as humans.  Now  don't think this means it is alright to poke the viper with a stick, the venom can still knock you off your feet for a couple days.  That said, like most snakes, the Bamboo pit viper usually will only strike a human if it feels        threatened, so if you see these guys in the wild respect their space! 
    Like most organisms, the Bamboo pit viper existence is threatened by human expansion into their habitat.  With the jungles of southern India disappearing, the Bamboo pit viper are disappearing too.  Unless deforestation stops soon, the bamboo pit vipers will become extinct with many other jungle organisms. 
    Venomous snakes are often captured by humans to harvest their venom.  This is used to make antivenin and other important medication for human interests. 

ACE inhibitors:
    While some people may hope to never have contact with snakes, we are actually very lucky to have pit vipers on earth! Pit viper venom has recently been discovered as a great tool for fighting high blood pressure as a key ingredient in ACE inhibitor medication.  ACE inhibitors work by regulating the body's production angiotenzin enzumy (ACE), an enzyme which produces proteins that constrict the blood vessels.  By decreasing the enzyme production, the blood vessels become dilated and the patients blood pressure drops.  Thus, ACE inhibitors are important medication used for the treatment of high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and many other blood related diseases.

 

 

 

 

                                                       Read some interesting facts about Bamboo pit vipers
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