Can You Pet a Blue Krait?
As a pet enthusiast, you may find yourself asking, “Can I pet a Blue Krait?” Although the answer is a definite “No”, the question still remains interesting and begs for further discussion.
The Blue Krait, or Boulenger’s Banded Within snake, is a nocturnal and solitary species of venomous snake found in Southeast Asia. It is a member of the same family as cobras and mambas, Elapidae. It has a unique, highly-iridescent, blue-sheened black colour, giving it a very striking appearance. Though its cobra relatives are known for their dangerousness and powerful venom, the Blue Krait is actually considered to be the world’s least venomous snake species and is mildly venomous at best.
Why You Shouldn’t Pet a Blue Krait
Though they may appear to be docile and intriguingly beautiful, Blue Kraits still pose a certain level of danger and should not be petted or handled in any way. The most obvious reason for this is that the Blue Krait is still a venomous animal, and whilst the venom of the Blue Krait is much weaker than that of its cobra relatives, it still poses a potential threat to other animals and humans.
Additionally, it should also be taken into account that the Blue Krait is a wild animal, and should be kept in its natural environment. This means that interfering with a Blue Krait in any way should be avoided as it is a species that is already facing endangerment. In order to protect the species from declining in numbers, it is essential that Blue Kraits are not disturbed in any way, and are allowed to go on living in their natural environment.
Other Reasons to Keep Your Distance From the Blue Krait
As an individual, coming in contact with the Blue Krait is not recommended. This is mainly due to the fact that Blue Kraits have amazing camouflage abilities, which allow them to blend in perfectly with their environment. In doing so, they can hide themselves and stay out of harm’s way without ever being detected. The Blue Krait can remain perfectly camouflaged and undetected by even experienced snake handlers.
This also means that if you do disturb a Blue Krait, in an effort to pet them, the snake may respond to the disturbance in a very hostile way, and may even bite you. This risk alone should be enough to keep you from wanting to pet a Blue Krait.
Blue Krait Conservation Efforts
The Blue Krait is a threatened species that is currently facing major population decline, and it is important to do our best to protect them. Conservation efforts have been underway to increase the population of these snakes, and the long-term goal is to keep them from becoming extinct.
In order to increase the population of the Blue Kraits, conservationists often provide resources like food, shelter and water to their natural habitats. They also look for ways to protect the snake from outside threats like poaching and destruction often caused by human activities such as logging and farming.
Some charities, like Blue Krait Conservation Inc., also strive to raise awareness about the Blue Krait and their threatened status, as well as educating others about the need for understanding, respect and protection for these unique animals.
Conclusion
Though the Blue Krait has a very unique, beautiful colour, its highly venomous nature should be enough to keep most people from wanting to pet it. It is important to respect this creature and leave it be in its natural environment. The Blue Krait species is threatened, and so it is essential that we make conservation efforts in order to protect them. You can help by joining a Blue Krait conservation group and helping to raise awareness of this alluring snake.