For people, once they encounter a snake, they are frightened. This is also a memory engraved in our bones.
However, there is a magical young man named Baituo in Pu'er, Yunnan. Over the years, he has lived with 25 snakes and even slept with a python on his pillow at night.
Bai Tuo not only managed to be safe and sound, but also lived in harmony with snakes , which is amazing.
I fell in love with snakes when I saw them for the first time.
Yunnan has a mild climate, many mountains and lush forests. In such an environment, snakes also breed freely and spread in many places. One day in junior high school, Bai Tuo returned home and was surprised by the scene in front of him.
It turned out that a cobra more than one meter long was lying in the house. The cobra opened its tongue and poured out its words. If it were anyone else, he would naturally run away. But for Bai Tuo, he was extremely excited.
Bai Tuo has lived in the mountains since he was a child. He is familiar with all kinds of snakes. Once upon a time, in order to find out the snake's habits, Bai Tuo even found someone to learn from him. But this time, it was the first time he saw the cobra in front of him.
For a moment, Bai Tuo was so excited that he didn't even have the slightest fear.
Bai Tuo slowly approached, imitating the snake's neighing, easing the relationship between the two. In fact, cobras are highly venomous, and their toxins can directly paralyze human nerves.
Once bitten accidentally, snake venom can kill people in a short time. It can be said that Bai Tuo is dancing with death. However, he has some experience and is just testing.
At the same time, Bai Tuo was also secretly curious: Snakes usually stay away from people, but this snake jumped into the house instead. Why?
After some observation, Bai Tuo finally figured it out. The outside temperature is too high and the house is cool and refreshing. This cobra is here to escape the heat. Immediately afterwards, he brought a basin of cold water and poured it all over the house. In this way, the concrete floor became cooler and the cobra began to swim happily.
Bai Tuo's only regret was that the cobra still slipped away when it was dark. Snakes don't like electric lights in the house and they will leave on their own initiative. This time meeting snakes aroused Bai Tuo's strong interest.
He secretly thought: It would be great if he could keep a few snakes at home. Who knew, a few months later, this wish would come true.
Save Burmese python , become a young snake farmer
One day while walking in the mountains, Bai Tuo was attracted by a strange sound. took a closer look and saw a thick python lying in the grass. Pythons are as thick as the mouth of a bowl and several meters long.
Upon closer inspection, the skin on the python's back fell off and its white flesh was exposed. Apparently, it was an injured python.
Bai Tuo boldly approached, lowered his body, and communicated with him with his eyes. At first, the python was a little wary and didn't allow Bai Tuo to get close to him.
In order to eliminate the python's alertness, Bai Tuo caught field mice from nearby and fed them to the python. Gradually, the big python became calm and no longer resisted.
Bai Tuo came to the snake, squeezed the juice from the herbs and applied it on its wounds. The dark green juice made the snake's severe pain much better, and the relationship between the two became closer.
It turns out that Bai Tuo grew up in the mountains. He was familiar with the wild conditions and knew how to pick herbs. usually only treats family members, but this time it was used on pythons. He felt that it was quite fate.
Bai Tuo put the big snake into the basket on his back, quietly covered it with a piece of cloth, and took it home. He made up his mind that he must take good care of this python, otherwise it would have difficulty surviving in the wild.
At that time, Bai Tuo was only a teenager, he was just a junior high school student. When the parents returned home, they were both frightened by what they saw. A python as big as a bowl was surrounding his son. Bai Tuo even comfortably used the snake's back as a pillow, turning the living room into a snake's nest.
Parents are naturally opposed to raising snakes at home. Farmers in Yunnan are no strangers to snakes, and they have suffered a lot.Snakes are naturally cold-blooded animals. They don't show any kindness at all. How can they be raised and cared for?
Bai Tuo didn't believe it. He begged and promised not to let the python escape and that he would pay more attention to it. In desperation, the parents had to agree.
Humans and snakes cohabitate and get along peacefully
In this way, Bai Tuo and the python became friends. During the day, he dug for voles, gathered herbs, and tried his best to take care of the python's injuries. At night, he put the python into the house to prevent it from wandering away easily.
As they get along day and night, Bai Tuo becomes more and more aware of the snake's habits. They like shade and are afraid of open flames and bright light. Snakes have poor eyesight, so they rely on snakes to find their way and their sense of smell to identify animals.
Generally speaking, snakes are also afraid of humans. In their eyes, humans have a tall appearance and hold various instruments. Snakes will never attack humans unless absolutely necessary.
As long as the snake understands your intentions and gets used to your scent, the snake will calm down and get along with you safely.
For a long time, Bai Tuo's childhood has been lonely. Being able to care for a python made him feel much more relaxed, and he also had someone to talk to.
Bai Tuo treats snakes sincerely. He never regards himself as his master and communicates and gets along with them in the manner of snakes. In this way of , python also accepted him. As a result, the two often go out together, not much different from ordinary domesticated cats and dogs.
Later, a passing wildlife expert came and he recognized the python at a glance as a Burmese python. Burmese pythons are non-venomous, medium-sized and docile. The most important thing is that its snake skin is expensive and is widely used in various types of luxury leather bags and clothing.
The implication is that this is an expensive python. After the news spread, people in the village rushed to come and see, and everyone was envious of Bai Tuo.
Unlike the complicated outside world, he maintains the kindness in his heart and the simplicity in his eyes. In that remote mountain village, Bai Tuo's family lived a poor life.
But when the acquirer (illegally) proposed a huge price, they said "no" firmly. Bai Tuo has never thought about making money by "selling snakes". This is his friend and he will never allow others to hurt him.
Famous, declined to be interviewed
In 2013, Bai Tuo's story appeared in major newspapers and periodicals. Suddenly, the title of "Snake Boy" was worn on his head. At that time, the media was still new. Can humans and snakes live in harmony?
This may be a question that everyone has thought about. This time, Bai Tuo proved with facts that as long as he is sincere and kind, even a cold-blooded snake can be influenced and tamed.
When reporters from all over the country came in droves, Bai Tuo also felt a little bit of unhappiness. Although he and the Burmese python have a good relationship, these strangers insist on Bai Tuo performing.
Looking at those forced posed photos, such as snakes wrapped around the back, and sleeping with snakes, it is so embarrassing. In the end, he simply told these friends: "I want to become a zoologist and make friends with more animals."
Obviously, the visiting "guests" regarded Bai Tuo and his "friends" as a circus. They had no concept of getting along as equals at all, and they were just looking for "anecdotes" and "fun".
Since then, Bai Tuo has rarely been seen in public. He also doesn't want to stand in front of the media cameras. In fact, snakes don't like to be disturbed by outsiders.
Generally speaking, the villagers and Bai Tuo are already accustomed to raising snakes. They live together and are bound to each other. But the arrival of these "guests" suddenly broke the tranquility and added many surprises.
So, Bai Tuo hid. He closed his doors and refused to be interviewed. Gradually, fewer and fewer people came to visit. From that time on, Bai Tuo also focused more on raising snakes.
When living with a snake, he appears calm and at ease. Years later, Bai Tuo unknowingly raised 25 snakes. Bai Tuo treats every snake like a family member. He takes good care of them and names them to be close to them.
Most of these snakes were picked up by themselves. They were crawling in the mountains, forests and grass. Some were injured and dying, and some fell from the cliff and hung on by a thread.
Bai Tuo has an affinity for snakes and he doesn't want to see them die in the wild. So he helped each of them back home and kept them at home.
There are also some snakes that are Yunnan Wildlife Park fostered in Baituo. It turns out that Bai Tuo's ability has been admired by many experts. This young man is thoughtful and gentle.
has his own way of taking care of snakes. What kind of artificial environment should snakes live in, and what kind of diet do snakes like? Snakes hate those smells and environments? Through practice and observation, Bai Tuo knew them all.
The young expert of safari
is much more professional than the college students who only study on paper. What's even more amazing about is that he has strong hands-on skills and meticulous observation.
Once he saw a wild python, Bai Tuo immediately discovered that the python had parasites . Under his care, the ringed mango quickly regained its vitality and wandered around the Yunnan Wildlife Park again.
Seeing this scene, the leaders of Yunnan Wildlife Park gave a thumbs up, and this young man was also remembered by them.
Bai Tuo did not go to college, but his personal abilities are very outstanding. Naturally, Yunnan Wildlife Park does not want to waste talents like this.
Therefore, after consulting with his superiors, Bai Tuo was introduced as a special support staff outside the park. Especially when it comes to snake protection, he can also get involved.
knew the news, and Bai Tuo was very happy. He had never thought before that he would one day be officially recognized. Although he has not officially entered society yet, he also wants to do his part.
As a descendant of Yunnan, it is his honor and responsibility to live among the beautiful mountains and rivers.
In the next ten years, Bai Tuo took care of more than a dozen snakes for the Yunnan Wildlife Park. Some of these snakes are kept in the garden, and some are simply fostered in Bai Tuo's home.
He took care of it with all his heart, and this career made Bai Tuo proud and happy. Among them, some small snakes are still the most difficult.
Young snakes are small, have poor diet (taste buds), and are sensitive to the environment. Without specially trained professionals, it would be difficult to provide comprehensive and meticulous care.
But for Bai Tuo, this is not difficult at all. Over the years, he has accumulated experience in caring for snake eggs, starting with them. Bai Tuo feels happy and fulfilled every day through observation and closeness.
This is a very rewarding job. In fact, the corresponding equipment and environment in the reptile pavilion of Yunnan Wildlife Park (a habitat for snakes and other species) are not suitable for the growth of young snakes. In Bai Tuo's village, he built several snake sheds to create a wild paradise for these young snakes.
Bai Tuo pays attention to the growth of young snakes. From eating and drinking, to getting along and playing with each other, he observes every detail and makes complete records. When these snakes mature, Bai Tuo will return them to the zoo.
Generally speaking, the whole process can take as short as a few months or as long as more than a year. Back and forth, Bai Tuo has handled no less than a hundred snakes of various types. It is worth mentioning that there are 25 snakes living together in his home, who have accompanied Bai Tuo for 10 years.
Combating snake trafficking, in action in 2022
In the blink of an eye, the time has come to 2022, and Bai Tuo has also reached his thirties. Many people are very concerned about how Bai Tuo makes a living? What is he doing now?
In fact, he has been engaged in snake-related work, doing the career that makes him happiest.
When reporters investigated again, Bai Tuo's identity was completely different. This time, he became a formal employee of Yunnan Wildlife Park and the person in charge of the snake breeding area. We haven't seen him for many years. Bai Tuo has grown taller and taller, and the youthful aura between his brows is still there.
is active in the reptile hall area (snake breeding) every day. He has a strong posture and awkward eyes.Facing hundreds of snakes in the venue, Bai Tuo can count them one by one. Color, pattern, age, these data are imprinted in my mind, as if they are all his children.
When introducing himself, Bai Tuo was still shy. But when he talked about snakes, the corners of his eyes turned up and he smiled. Thanks to Bai Tuo's efforts, the number and types of snakes in the venue have increased a lot, and the survival rate of young snakes is particularly high.
Bai Tuo said with confidence that China is at the forefront of the world in promoting " biodiversity ", and Yunnan is at the forefront of China.
Just last year (October 2021), Kunming held the world-famous "Biodiversity Conference" and achieved remarkable achievements. As a young man from Yunnan, Bai Tuo is proud of this.
Because he has a good understanding of the habits, life and growth of snakes, Bai Tuo has become a well-known "snake expert" in Yunnan. Whenever something big happens, he will be invited to participate.
In recent years, snake trafficking incidents inside and outside Yunnan have been severely cracked down. Bai Tuo and the forest police patrol the mountains together, looking for animals (mainly high-value snakes).
Among the hundreds of thousands of mountains in Yunnan, there are more than tens of millions of snakes of all kinds. Over the years, domestic and foreign criminals (wild snake hunters and smugglers) have become arrogant and have been causing harm to these snakes.
Bai Tuoze fought resolutely against them. He and his comrades from the Yunnan Forest Police cracked down on smuggling cases many times. With his keen eyes, Bai Tuo can immediately identify wild snakes and rare snakes.
After saving these snakes, Bai Tuo will also touch and treat them with his own hands. As if he was born with snakes, Bai Tuo's magical power is amazing. As long as he comes near, the snakes will lie dormant quietly and accept care obediently.
Before releasing the snake (back into the wild), Bai Tuo will also carefully check the snake's condition and even play with it for a while.
I am truly born with talent that must be useful. Bai Tuo has won everyone's recognition with his personal expertise. In the future, he will definitely go further and become a shining snake conservation expert and an outstanding animal protector.
