Snake Reserve

Located in the Mae Sa valley nine miles north of Chiang Mai, the Mae Sa Snake Farm is the largest snake breeding and research facility in Northern Thailand. Thailand has over 100 species of snakes, many of which, including the Thai Cobra, are represented at the Mae Sa Snake farm.

Mae Sa focuses primarily on breeding, research, and educating the public about the snakes of Thailand. Primarily visitors to the park, and to a lesser extent government grants, fund the facility.

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Students will tour the breeding and research laboratories where they will have the opportunity to observe a venom extraction and learn about the research being done at the facility.

And no, you don't have to touch the snakes. But yes, you can if you want to. Our visit ends with a presentation on snake handling and an opportunity to handle and be photographed with various indigenous snakes.

Even for students who aren't big snake fans, the snake reserve provides food for thought as to which species receive conservation dollars. If all our conservation focus goes to pandas, tigers, and other cute animals, which other species benefit? Which miss out? Over time, how is biodiversity effected? It raises some interesting questions for effective conservation methods.