The Invisible Lifeline: How Zoos Became America's Last Resort for Exotic Snake Bite Victims

This article illuminates how the Antivenom Index—a decades-old, largely unknown coordination system—has become a critical lifeline for people bitten by dangerous exotic snakes kept as private pets. As the popularity of exotic pet ownership outpaces regulatory oversight, zoos have become unexpected emergency responders, storing life-saving antivenoms and providing critical medical intervention when civilian victims have nowhere else to turn.