he hissing of hundreds of snakes greets visitors as they enter a special room at National Health Laboratory. The snake handler Khalid Hussain tries to coax the deadly reptiles to silence. `Hush, don`t make noise. Our guests are looking afraid, he says.

These snakes are specially kept here for the very venom that they are feared for. Islamabad and adjoining areas are home to hundreds of species of snalces. The word `Margallah` literally meaning `abode of snakes`. Snake bites are fairly common, especially in rural areas.

The snakes kept at NHL are deadly, their bite can cause immediate death but here these snakes only bite wine glasses.

Biological Production Division of National Health Institute is the sole producer of life saving vaccines and antiserum, animal serum containing antibodies which are used for immunisation against communicable diseases.

Antiserum is also used against snake venom and the antiserum produced by NIH is considered to be the most effective in Pakistan.

Khalid Hussain says that not all snakes are venomous as they kill their prey through constriction. `We house four types of venomous snakes here, Cobra, Russell Viper, Echis and Krait,` he says, pointing towards each type.

According to Hussain, these snakes are fed a diet of eggs and milk.

The venom extractor, Maqsood Ahmed, has been working at the NHL for twelve years. `I was scared in the beginning but now handling these snakes is routine,` he said.

Explaining the procedure used for acquiring the venom, he says, the snakes are brought out of their cages and their fangs are put on the wine glass. This is called `milking` `The snake releases the venom in the wine glass,` he says, adding that every 25 days, fresh venom must be taken from the snakes.

The venom is then sent to the production department for preparing antivenin or anti-venom for snake bites. Scientific Officer, Aamna Wajid, explains that the venom is diluted and injected into horses. Their bodies release antibodies in the blood, against the venom which can be harvested.

`Though our production is far less than India`s, but our antivenom is superior in quality,` she says.

Mujahid Hussain, a laboratory technician, says that all four species in the laboratory are poisonous. He explains that demand for vaccine increases in the summer because snakes come out of their holes. `All snakes are dangerous but krate is considered the most poisonous,` he says.These snakes are purchased by private contractors, who usually bring them from Sindh, he explains.

According to Hussain, the bite of Cobra and Krait affect nerve transmission to the muscles while Russsel Viper and Echis` bite attacks red blood cells. `However, our vaccine is effective against the venom of all snakes, he adds.

Dr Sharif Astori, a senior doctor at Fe deral Government Service Hospit al, explained that like other parts of the country, snakes are found in Margalla Hills and other suburbs of Federal Capital. `Now, almost all hospitals have antivenin. People are advised to instantly shift the victim to nearby hospitals. Normally, snakes venom takes 30 minutes to affect the human body,` Dr Astori said.

`The problem is people in remote areas, instead of immediately shifting the injured to hospitals, waste time on stereotype cure such as cutting the skin around the wound, tying some-thing around the wound, some people try to suck the venom out and some even atempt spiritual healing which results in the death of the victim,` he said.

Muhammad Nasir, Inspector General of Forest said that Pakistani forests are habitats for various kinds of snakes which also include Indian pythons. He said snakes are useful to their habit because they eat rodents which are a threat to crops and plants.

He said snakes should not be killed unless they threaten a person.

Javed Mahar, Head of Wildlife in Sindh, said efforts were being made to put the snalces in protected animals category. He said many people illegally capture snakes to sell their venom.

`Recently we recovered dozens of snakes, being smuggled to Karachi from interior Sindh,` he said. `We have to play our role to protect snakes because they are important for us. I appeal to people to not to kill snakes unless they threaten you,` he added.