the green issue Continued from page 19 SNA K EBI T E S. The World Health orga- nization estimates that up to 94,000 deaths result from snakebites worldwide each year. Many of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s “largely a neglected threat to public health affecting mainly the poor in de- prived rural areas,” wrotelorenzo Savioli, WHo director of the department of con- trol and neglected tropical diseases. “We need to act now to deal effectively with this problem, which causes severe disabil- ity, brings misery to families and which kills thousands of people.” How does one fight snakebites? Anti- venom. Conservation zones safeguard habitat, but they also are important be- cause the reptiles living in these national parks, Jackson insists, can save lives. And this is where Jackson’s research and new database help. Jackson shows children a juvenile African rock python that was accidentally caught in a fish Jackson is a world expert on Western trap in the town of Impfondo in 2005. and Central African snakes. In fact, she’s the go-to herpetologist for identifying … Thanks for any info you can give me out which kind of snake it was and which these creepy creatures, and she routinely about this snake.” anti-venom to use. receives emails from colleagues asking her After looking at the photograph in her “The ‘Snakes of Central and Western to judge whether or not snakes found slith- inbox, Jackson responded: “Hi Carly. Africa’ database provides the information, ering through their campsites are danger- Green mamba,Dendroaspis viridis – high- tools and training necessary for African ous. ly venomous! Cheers, Kate.” medical professionals to make expedient The emails start off pleasantly enough. Having received hundreds of emails snake identifications, which are necessary “Dear Kate.” Then the correspondence asking for her help recognizing venomous for treatment of snakebite,” Jackson ex- shifts: “Sorry for the gory pictures,” wrote snakes, Jackson decided to use her re- plained. Carly, a colleague from Ghana who had at- search to develop an easily accessible, on- The database is a companion to her tached a photo of a snake that had been line database to identify the snakes of sub- forthcoming book, also titled “Snakes of beaten to death by villagers. “This snake Saharan Africa down to the genus level, so Central and Western Africa,” which covers was about 5 feet long … so as soon as it now when a snakebite victim is hustled 26 countries and almost 300 species of was spotted people were rushing to kill it into a medical clinic, the doctor can figure snakes. travel alert sub-saharan Africa. The former biology major sayswill enable easier identification of the snakes of the database, in addition to helping doctors treat Political unrest. Disease. Deadly animals. These snakebites, is also a valuable resource for biologists are just a few of the risks associated with traveling and reptile enthusiasts. through the Congo. Due to safety reasons, Assistant Clarke credits his Whitman research experiences Professor of Biology Kate Jackson can’t bring her with helping him land his job at the University of Whitman students on research trips to the Congolese Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs, where he works on jungles. biomechanics, morphology and evolution of fishes. However, Jackson doesn’t leave her students alone Next fall, he’ll begin a Ph.D. program in biology at in the laboratory with nothing to do. she routinely stanford. brings back samples to Whitman. she also teams up “The opportunity to be involved with Kate’s Nat Clarke with her students on research projects, and some of research existed entirely because of the openness her students even collaborated with her on her and accessibility of the Whitman biology faculty, forthcoming book and database, “snakes of Western especially Kate, who crafted a full-bodied research and Central Africa.” experience for me that integrated coursework, one student isDonald “nat” Clarke ’11. Clarke student-faculty collaboration and independent collaborated on the book and helped develop the research in a comprehensive way that I don’t think I website now hosting the innovative database, which could get anywhere else.” 20 Whitman Magazine
Whitman Magazine July 2012
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