In China, a 29-year-old woman is raising over 60,000 venomous snakes and earning $147,000 annually, according to the South China Morning Post.
Sin was born in 1995 in Guilin city, Guangxi. Two years after completing her higher education, she returned to her village to help her father with snake farming.
Currently, she is raising over 60,000 reptiles. More than 50,000 of them are 'five-pace' vipers, a type of highly venomous snake, while about 10,000 are cobras. Sin stated that her father initially opposed her involvement in this profession, considering it dangerous. However, as the farm expanded and her father could no longer manage it alone, she decided to help.
'Five-pace' vipers are fed prepared food, but direct interaction with them remains highly dangerous. 'I'm not very afraid of such snakes. My father raised them even before I was born,' says Sin.
Sin explained that dried snake, snake venom, and snake oil are widely used in traditional medicine. The venom extracted from them is used in medical research. Currently, venom can be extracted from each 'five-pace' viper twice a month.
A gram of venom sells for 40 to 200 yuan ($6–$30) depending on quality. Snake meat costs around 200–300 yuan per portion, with larger snakes valued at over 1,000 yuan (approximately $150).
After deducting labor and other expenses, this business can generate over one million yuan in profit annually. Sin shares her experiences and snake farming advice on social media under the name 'Snake Venom Collector Girl.' Her page is followed by over 22,000 users.
'If a snake handler tells you they aren't afraid of being bitten, there's only one reason: they've never been bitten. Especially when bitten by a 'five-pace' viper, intense pain occurs. Once you feel it, you'll remember it for a long time, even a lifetime. One might think only the bitten spot will hurt if a snake bites your hand, but in reality, the pain can spread to the wrist, shoulder, and even half of the body,' says Sin.
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