We’re not going to have a political discussion today, which can apparently lead to a website version of a fractious Thanksgiving dinner involving a family with sharply different political views. Instead, marvel here at the courage of two aged Japanese ladies, whose job is to catch deadly sea snakes—to make soup. It’s shown in the four-minute BBC video below.
Now all banded sea snakes are highly toxic, and are the kraits (genus Bungarus). Although bitten victims can be treated with antivenom, mortality from some species can be as high as 80% in untreated victims (age of victim and time until treatment begins are crucial). The venoms are neurotoxic and the symptoms are dire.
The snakes being hunted in this video, are probably the black-banded sea krait (Laticauda semifasciata), and they’re caught for food. From Wikipedia:
Black-banded sea krait venom is reportedly ten times stronger than that of a cobra; however, as with the vast majority of venomous snake species, the black-banded sea krait generally does not aggressively strike at humans unless it is cornered or threatened (or otherwise maliciously provoked), preferring to conserve its energy and venom supplies for hunting purposes, reacting defensively only as a very last resort.
Despite its potent venom, which is concentrated in the snake’s venom glands (behind the eyes), the meat of the erabu snake is a winter staple food in southern Japan, where it is believed to replenish a female’s womanhood or increase fertility. Irabu soup, or irabu-jiru (ja:イラブー汁), is said to taste like miso and a bit like tuna. This dish was a favorite of the royal court of the Ryukyu Kingdom; it is thought to have analeptic properties.
During certain warm years, the sea snakes are drawn en masse to the sea caves and tide pools of the coastal Ryukyu cliffs, in search of fresh water to drink and possibly to mate. It is in these cryptic spots where, by cover of darkness (and usually guided only by lantern light), elderly women—who are the most experienced at preparing irabu-jiru—explore the dangerous caverns in pursuit of black-banded sea kraits, which the ladies catch with their bare hands. Some areas may contain hundreds of the snakes, some engaged in active breeding balls, yet the women hike through the caves barefoot or with minimal protective gear. As with the handling of any venomous snake species, the sea snakes are grabbed quickly behind the head, as to avoid any potential envenomation. They are placed in a cloth bag, alive, and later quickly dispatched and prepared in a simple broth with kombu or other edible kelp, and possibly a bit of pork.
Look how they handle these snakes! Bare-handed, and no real protection. Would you do this?
I think the second sentence of the second paragraph has a typo (or very interesting philosophical comment) — 80% mortality instead of 80% morality. (I wonder how many get to 80% morality.)
Fixed it, thanks.
The post is astounding. The woman walked in barefoot. I would be afraid to even eat the soup.
Great post to see!
They are extraordinary ladies. Although I do have an extra soft spot for snakes, as far as I know this harvest is sustainable.
OK, I’ll say this :
Very few people are holding the country together – and even fewer for principled reasons.
PCC(E) – and his website Why Evolution Is True – are one of those few.
And now – snake wrestling.
😆
In my younger days, I was a dive master and did a lot of SCUBA. I’ve seen snakes like these up close. They are very good swimmers. We were told although they can be deadly, they aren’t aggressive, and can be handled with care. They have very small mouths which make it difficult for them to bite large things, like people. They can get your fingers though; the only bite I heard of from the folks who handle them was a bite in the flesh between the victims fingers.
Before anyone yells at me, I’m not diminishing the danger or amazingness of these women. Just commenting on my experience with these animals.
Would I do this? No. I’m afraid of snakes, even the nonvenomus ones.
Would I do this? Um, no. Never.
I was sorting prawns on a trawler off the east coast of NSW. A ‘catch’ usually consisted of a few prawns and a ton of seaweed and stingrays and other bottom dwellers. The night a sea-snake slithered out of the seaweed stands out in my mind! The skipper said he had seen the snake when the nets came aboard but he forgot to tell me! I think I read somewhere that tiger-snake antivenene is also effective for sea-snake envenomisation. The trick is to have antivenene in your pocket when you are bitten, else you are toast, I guess. Locals used to warn against walking through foam on the beaches in case sea-snakes had been driven ashore.
I was always unsettled with the destruction of so much sea life in pursuit of a few prawns, but the pods of dolphins and the schools of sharks that followed the prawning fleet got free lunches.
Yikes! I think it would be safer to talk about politics!