Live Snake Research Articles

Preservation of Natural History and Biodiversity of Bangladesh: Effort of Bangladesh National Museum

The study of nature has likely been one of humanity’s earliest pursuits, considering that a natural inclination for humans, even in a primitive state, is to pay attention to the environment, appreciating the flora, fauna, and the earth beneath their feet. This study aims to assess the role and contributions of the Department of National History of Bangladesh National Museum in preserving the natural history, heritage and biodiversity of Bangladesh through analysis of gathered exhibits, specimens, and input from diverse sources, including general visitors, field experts, and researchers. Additionally, this research seeks to identify potential avenues of future growth and development within the department. The Natural History department has meticulously gathered a treasure trove of ancient animals, plants, and geological fossils, butterflies, live snakes, snails, and oysters. The scope of Bangladesh’s biodiversity and natural history is far too broad to be fully represented within limited galleries. As such, it is imperative to consider establishing a separate Natural History Museum. Additional recommendations from the participants include creating a separate herb gallery consisting of diverse collection of medicinal herbs and other plants for greater conservation of plant species. The usage of diorama and semi-dioramas in representing the biodiversity of Bangladesh is not only very appealing to the visitors but also expressive of the natural habitats of the wildlife. As such, modernizing the other galleries and incorporating dioramas as medium of display might be taken into consideration. There have been calls from the participants to incorporate modern technology, in particular 3D visuals.

How anatomy influences measurements of snakes.

Anatomy compromises the precision and accuracy of measurements made of the body length and head size of live snakes. Body measures (snout-vent length, SVL) incorporate many synovial intervertebral joints, each allowing flexion and limited extension and compression. Radiographs of the trunk in 14 phylogenetically diverse species in resting and stretched conditions combined with dissections and histological analysis of intervertebral joints show that the synovial nature of these joints underlies the variance in SVL measures. Similarly, the ubiquity and variety of viscoelastic tissues connecting mobile snout and jaw elements of alethinophidian snakes underlie variances in length and width measures of the head. For the overall size of the head and jaw apparatus, the part that can be most easily and relatively precisely measured for many snakes is the mandible because it has only one mobile joint. As to accuracy, the anatomy of intervertebral and cranial joints supports the hypothesis that in living snakes, the head and trunk have no exact size.

1082 Toying With a Viper: A Case of Paediatric Envenoming Following a Snakebite in the UK

Abstract Worldwide 5.4 million people suffer from snakebites each year with a further 2.7 million suffering from envenoming and up to 138 000 people are said to have died annually due to snake bites with three times as many people suffering from permanent disability. The British Isles appear lucky in that regard, snake bites in the United Kingdom are rare with the Vipera Berus (Adder) being Britain’s only indigenous venomous snake. There are just over 100 human bites each year with only 14 recorded deaths since 1876 with the last death occurring in 1975. We present the following case of a 2 year old who was bitten by the Vipera Berus in the fields of Lincolnshire after mistaking the live snake for his favourite toy at home. He presented with local symptoms of envenoming and was given two doses of antivenom during his admission. Despite diagnostic and operative challenges presented by the infrequency of such cases. The combined care from our emergency, paediatric and orthopaedic teams resulted in an optimal outcome and learning experience.

Russell’s Viper Bite and Its Immediate Outcome In Bangladesh

Background: Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) is found in Asia, throughout Indian subcontinent, much of South East Asia, Southern China and Taiwan. Russell’s viper was seemed to be rare in Bangladesh. Anecdotes suggest that Russell’s viper (Daboia russelii) was an important cause of mortality in the 1920s, but no case of envenoming by this species has since been reported in Bangladesh. Russell’s viper bite has been reported and it is the one of the common snake bite at Rajshahi region which has great morbidity and mortality as well. Methods: This is a prospective observational study was conducted in the Medicine department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. We treated total 171 patients from 2013 to December 2022. Russell’s viper envenomation confirmed either by brought dead or live snake specimen, photograph, bedside 20MWBCT and other symptoms. Results: In the management of RV bite patient in the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, we found that most of the patients are delayed in getting hospitalization after bite due to visit to traditional healer. In our study 96% were male, and 4% were female, mostly farmer and 90% bite site in the lower limb during work in the paddy field. The clinical presentation was pain and local swelling (100%), blood oozing from local site (77%), bruising (44%), haematuria (25%), hypotension (30%), oliguria and few with DIC. In lab findings, coagulopathy (24%), raised CPK (60%), 67% Patients had AKI (raised creatinine and RBC in urine), among them 50% needed dialysis. Few patients also develop multiorgan failure. All patients received polyvalent Anti-venomsupplied by GOB (Incepta Bangladesh Ltd.) which works against cobra, krait, Russell’s viper bite. Despite maximum available support at RMCH, around 30% patient died. Conclusion: It’s high mortality indicates that this polyvalent antivenom might not be working properly. We may need to increase the initial dose or we need to provide monovalent antivenom specific to RV in Bangladesh and early treatment at Upazila Health Complex to reduce the rate of death due to Russell’s viper bite. Bangladesh J Medicine 2023; Vol. 34, No. 2(1) Supplement: 204

Micro Learning: A Modernized Education System Using the VIKOR Method

A micro-teaching clinic marks a performance plateau once educators attain an advanced level. Enhancing teacher performance serves as a beneficial catalyst. Despite highly skilled teachers reaching career peaks initially, they often lack motivation to further elevate their capabilities. Introducing new ideas and effortlessly encouraging them to explore fosters professional growth, benefiting student learning outcomes significantly. A live snake in the hands of a class of micro-teachers. Her lesson's goal was to point out traits unique to snakes that other creatures do not have. His dramatic arrival made the students immediately engaged, and they remained so for the whole five-minute HD instruction. By the time the lesson ends, it's actual Furthermore, it is undeniable that laboratory instruction is not. Supervisors assess and assign scores to pupils of teachers in accordance with the Stanford Assessment Guide. Overall, he scored really well, with an exception of "improving the learning material." This gifted instructor covering a lot of ground in a short amount of time using the lecture method while providing immediate feedback. It was advised that the student concentrate again to give a more succinct summary that was more robust close, and that the topics be restricted to the minimum of three fundamental traits that set snakes apart from other kinds of creatures. The similar handling of snakes lesson was repeated by the teacher, who also provided instant comments on proposed advancement. The instructor, students, and supervisors all saw that the lesson had advanced considerably with frequent repeating. Everyone was in agreement that the content had been well examined and had an extremely clear structure. In addition to "accelerating the curriculum," The VIKOR method, that was developed for multifaceted optimization in complicated systems is becoming more and more common. Its main objective is to rank and choose among alternatives that have disparate and contradictory unit requirements. Concession in the VIKOR method approach is defined as a decision based on common preferences, and compromise ranking is determined by evaluating its degree of near to the optimal solution. Online Courses and Tutorials, Micro-Credentials and Badges, YouTube and Podcasts, Mobile Learning Apps and Self-paced Learning Modules. Cost and Affordability group Learning, Outcomes and Application group, Environment group and Interactivity and Engagement. the final Results of Micro education analysis using the Vikor Method. Micro education in Self-Paced Learning Modules is showing the highest Rank and Mobile Learning Apps is showing the Lowest rank

Dissecting the brain's fear systems responding to snake threats.

We examined the behavioural responses and Fos expression pattern of rats that were exposed to snake threats from shed snakeskin and a live snake. We differentiated the behavioural responses and the pattern of Fos expression in response to the odour cues and mild threat from a live snake. Animals exposed to the snake odour alone or to the confined snake showed a great deal of risk assessment. Conversely, the intensification of odour during exposure to the live snake decreased the threat ambiguity, and the animals froze for a significantly longer period. Our Fos analysis showed that a pathway formed by the posteroventral part of the medial amygdalar nucleus to the central part of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus appeared to be solely responsive to odour cues. In addition, we showed increased Fos expression in a parallel circuit comprising the lateral amygdalar nucleus, ventral subiculum, lateral septum, and juxtadorsomedial region of the lateral hypothalamic area that is responsive to both the odour and mild threat from a live snake. This path is likely to process the environmental boundaries of the threat to be avoided. Both paths merge into the dorsal premammillary nucleus and periaqueductal grey sites, which all increase Fos expression in response to the snake threats and are likely to organize the defensive responses. Moreover, we found that the snake threat mobilized the Edinger-Westphal and supraoculomotor nuclei, which are involved in stress adaptation and attentional mechanisms.

Snakes’ commodification within the fashion system

In the early 2000s a snake would appear as a prop in a live music performance, catalyzing a “trend” of live snakes as accessories which persists today on runways, red carpets, and on pages of fashion magazines. Around the same time, luxury fashion brands were selling out of snakeskin clothing and accessories, a trend which maintains popularity today. This paper applies a critical animal studies lens and insights from snake behavior literature to consider how live snakes are used in fashion performances and how they may be stressed by these environments. This article also discusses snakeskin as a distinct form of accessory which glamorizes and appraises snake death. Whether they appear alive or dead, the snake’s nonconsensual appearance on a runway, red carpet, or stage as a superfluous accessory trivializes and passivizes the snake. Surprisingly, such arguments find opposition from influential global conservation organizations, and the role of the luxury fashion industry is a controversial talking point in snake conservation.

Parasitic Helminths in Snakes from The Global Legal Trade.

SummaryIn recent years, the demand for snakes imported from different countries around the world has increased in Slovakia. However, such snakes can be infected with a wide variety of parasites. We have been focused on monitoring the prevalence of parasitic helminths of snakes imported to Slovakia. From 2015 to 2020, 205 samples were collected. We examined faecal samples of 185 live snakes, and a parasitological autopsy was performed on 20 carcasses. Out of a total of 205 snakes, parasitic helminths were found in 44 individuals (21.46 %). Coprological examination of live snakes confirmed positivity for the presence of helminths in 38 snakes (20.54 %). Through parasitological autopsy of all the dead snakes, we found helminths or their eggs in 6 carcasses (30.00 %). The genera of helminths found in the positive snakes were: Ophiotaenia spp., Kapsulotaenia spp., Strongyloides spp., Rhabdias spp., Ophidascaris spp., Ascaridia spp., f. Heterakidae, Kalicephalus spp., Capillaria spp., order Oxyurida and stages of the plerocercoid of an unidentifi ed species of tapeworm in the subcutaneous tissue.

Web-based snake identification service: A successful model of snake identification in Sri Lanka

Snakes are reptiles of great biomedical significance. The accurate identification of snakes is particularly important for healthcare workers to diagnose and treat victims of snakebite envenoming. Further, snake identification is vital for the general population, especially to those who live in areas of high snakebite incidence. Owing to the great diversity of snakes and the superficial similarities between some species, the correct identification of these reptiles is often difficult. Therefore, identification of snake species is challenging for healthcare workers, biologists, naturalists, and the general population. To overcome this challenge, we developed a web-based snake identification service (www.snakesidentification.org) in Sri Lanka, which provides rapid and accurate identification by experienced herpetologists. This service received 486 identification requests over a period of 40 months. The majority of requests were from Colombo District [140 (28.8%)], though only 63 (13.0%) of these were identified as medically important snakes. The majority [389 (80.0%)] of the requests related either to feebly venomous colubrid snakes or non-venomous species. The sample included 30 (of 107) snake species in the island, including 8 endemic species. There were 315 (64.8%) requests relating to live snakes. In the majority of cases (285, 90.4%), the snake was released to the closest available habitat after being identified. The median time taken to respond to requests was 70 min (interquartile range 23–299 min). The majority of persons making requests (283, 58.2%) were unable to identify the snakes. For those who attempted identification the snakes, correct identification was made by only 59 (12.1%), whereas 144 (29.6%) identified the snake incorrectly. This web-based snake identification service provides an example of a successful and useful model of rapid snake identification. Similar models could be implemented in other regions and countries to provide accurate information on snake identification both to the healthcare workers and the general public.

Slithering Stories We Live By: Animal Educators’ Construction and Enactment of Positive Snake Narratives

Abstract Representations of snakes abound in literature, oral traditions, and visual arts. Often constructed as sneaky or sinister, the cultural evaluation of snakes can perhaps best be stated by the adage, “The only good snake is a dead snake.” Such messages become the “stories we live by.” This evaluation is widespread but not universal. Educators are agents of alternative stories that exist in struggle with dominant ones. This study used ethnographic methods to explore how the setting, audience, storytelling educators, and story told all shape the conceptualization of “snake.” The setting may resist or perpetuate a negative cultural evaluation of snakes. Presuppositions, convictions, and available examples of modeling influence whether audience members choose to adopt a new story or retain the old one. Through their discourse, enactments, and material displays, educators offer an embodied, sensorial story with the central message, “The only good snake is a live snake.”

Clinico-epidemiology of Hypnale zara (hump-nosed pit viper) envenoming in Sri Lanka

Hump-nosed vipers of the genus Hypnale are the most common cause of venomous snakebites in Sri Lanka. The genus includes three species: Hypnale hypnale, Hypnale zara and Hypnale nepa. Of them, H. hypnale bites are the most common and are the subject of many publications. The epidemiology and clinical features of bites by the other two species have been less investigated. We conducted a prospective observational study of H. zara bites from January 2015 to June 2020 at the Teaching Hospital, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. Data were collected for 5.5 years in the wet zone of the island, where the principal investigator did assessment of all patients and the data collection. H. zara envenoming was confirmed through identification of dead or live snake specimens brought with the patients. Of the 480 patients with proven hump-nosed viper bites, H. zara bites accounted for 105 (22%), including dry bites (n=5 [5%]) and envenoming (n=100 [95%]), with gender distribution of 65 (62%) males and a mean age of 43.1y. Most bites occurred on the lower limbs (n=71 [68%]) in the daytime (n=69 [66%]) in home gardens (n=45 [43%]). A total of 100 (95%) patients had local manifestations, including pain (n=100 [95%]), swelling (n=100 [95%]), bleeding (n=20 [19%]), bruising (n=11 [10%]), lymphadenopathy (n=10 [9%]), necrosis at the bite site (n=9 [9%]) and blistering (n=8 [8%]). Seven (6.7%) patients showed systemic effects, including acute kidney injury (n=2 [2%]), microangiopathic haemolysis (n=2 [2%]), sinus bradycardia (2 [2%]) and one (1%) each had coagulopathy, thrombotic microangiopathy, Kounis syndrome and ischaemic changes on electrocardiography. Eosinophilia was a significant haematological finding (n=26 [25%]) and 16 (15%) had leucocytosis and 15 (14%) had neutrophilia. Ninety six percent of patients (n=101) recovered. Antivenom is not available for hump-nosed viper bites in Sri Lanka and therefore patients were managed conservatively. This study shows that H. zara bites mainly cause local envenoming and rarely systemic effects.

Exploring Parent–Child Conversations about Live Snakes and Spiders: Implications for the Development of Animal Fears

Snakes and spiders commonly elicit fear. However, despite the pervasiveness of these fears in adulthood, little is known about how they develop in early childhood. Informal learning environments, like zoos, allow for observation of parent–child conversations about these animals. Such naturalistic conversations may contain negative talk and may be one mechanism for the development of fears. In Study 1, we interviewed 241 preschool-aged children about snakes and spiders. In Study 2, 15 parent–child conversations were observed at a zoo. Across studies, we found that participants provided less positive (Study 2) and more negative (Study 1) information about snakes and spiders than other animals, and that children reported more fear (Study 1). Our results highlight the availability of negative information about snakes and spiders, and we discuss how we can use children’s early experiences in informal learning settings to teach them about animals without contributing to the development of early fears.

Cleaning out Varna's "Augean stables"

The cyclical 12-year calendar is marked each year by its zodiacal symbol. Among them is the year of the astrological, imaginary, heavently fire-breathing dragon. The word „Sklav/Slav“ means heavenly dragon. The image of St. George, a victor, presents the killing of a dragon near a lake with sacrilegious girl in which a symbolic murder of the Slav was concealed. In the lakes and rivers live snakes and St. George must kill a snake, not a dragon, a symbol of the Slavs. Do scientists think that presidents, patriarchs of Slavic countries must necessarily change?

Hump-nosed pit viper (Hypnale hypnale and Hypnale zara) envenoming in Deniyaya, Sri Lanka: Epidemiological and clinical features from a prospective observational study

Hypnale hypnale, Hypnale zara and Hypnale nepa are the three species of Hump nosed pit vipers that are implicated in human bites in Sri Lanka. H. zara and H. nepa are two endemic species to the country. The objective of the study was to characterize epidemiology and clinical features after different Hump nosed pit viper species bites.A prospective observational study was conducted in Base Hospital Deniyaya from 2013 to 2015. Hump nosed pit viper as the offending snake was identified when the victims brought live or dead specimens. Species identification of dead specimen was done by a herpetologist. Clinical details were recorded during the hospital stay.83 Hump nosed pit viper bite patients (19–81 years) were studied. Fifty two dead specimens were identified as 39 of H. zara and 13 of H. hypnale by the herpetologist. No H. nepa was identified. Thirty one live snakes were identified as Hump nosed pit vipers and released in to the wild. Envenoming was reported throughout the year. Eighty (96.4%) were daytime bites. Hands (43.4%), feet (55.4%) and arms (1.2%) were affected sites. Sixty two (74.7%) were bitten in tea plantations. All had pain over bite site. Overall, sixty nine (83.1%) had local swelling, seven (8.4%) extensive limb swelling, nineteen (22.9%) haemorrhagic blisters, and seven (8.4%) regional lymphadenopathy. Four (4.8%) patients had incoagulable blood by 20WBCT. H. zara bites had 28.2% haemorrhagic blisters, 7.7% extensive limb swelling and 2.6% coagulopathy. H. hypnale bites had 7.7% each extensive limb swelling and coagulopathy and 23.1% haemorrhagic blisters. None developed elevated serum creatinine. Neurotoxicity was not noted.Hump nosed pit viper bites caused substantial morbidity. Risk factors included day time outdoor activities and occupation. Pain, extensive limb swelling, bite site swelling, haemorrhagic blisters, regional lymphadenopathy and coagulopathy were prominent clinical features. Nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity were notably absent. Clinical features varied depending on the species implicated.

Ketamine metabolite (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine reverses behavioral despair produced by adolescent trauma

Early life trauma dramatically increases the risk of developing major depressive disorder (MDD), and is associated with a markedly decreased adult treatment response to antidepressants. Novel treatment approaches are required to treat childhood trauma-associated MDD. Recent studies suggest that the (R,S)-ketamine (ketamine) metabolite, (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK), exerts fast- and long-lasting antidepressant-like effects without ketamine's NMDAR-inhibition-associated adverse side-effect profile. We investigated the therapeutic potential of (2R,6R)-HNK against behavioral despair produced by a novel live-predator stress exposure during adolescence. Male and female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to a live snake or control conditions at post-natal (PND) days 31, 45 and 61. In order to assess the enduring consequences of trauma-exposure, at a minimum of 14 days following the last exposure, mice received inescapable shocks followed by a session with available escape options twenty-four hours later. Mice that manifested enduring escape deficits (helplessness) were treated with vehicle or (2R,6R)-HNK (20 mg/kg, i.p.), 24 h prior to retesting for reversal of escape deficits. We found that a significantly greater number of mice developed the helpless phenotype when they were exposed to the live predator and that the helpless phenotype was reversed in mice treated with (2R,6R)-HNK. There were no sex differences in the response to predator-stress exposure or (2R,6R)-HNK treatment. The live-predator model developed in this study provides an opportunity to further refine our understanding of the neurobiological substrates impacted by adolescent trauma and improve treatment strategies. The demonstrated efficacy of (2R,6R)-HNK in this model suggests a novel therapeutic intervention for a treatment-resistant population.

Forty-four years of global trade in CITES-listed snakes: Trends and implications for conservation and public health

Trade in venomous and non-venomous snakes can negatively impact wild snake populations and may drive snakebite risk for people. However, we often lack sufficient trade data to identify where the potential risks for snake population decline and snakebite are highest. Currently, the legal, international trade of 164 snake species is regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). We analyzed CITES-listed snake trade from 1975 to 2018 using the recently released shipment-level CITES Trade Database to identify spatiotemporal trends of snake trade and generate insights regarding snake conservation and potential public health risks from snakebite. Commercially purposed pythons dominated the global snake trade, comprising 38.8% of all traded snakes. Live snakes were mainly exported by Ghana, Indonesia, Togo, and Benin, and imported by China and the USA. Venomous snake trade comprised 10.8% of all traded snakes, and over 75% of wild-sourced venomous snakes came from Indonesia. Although traded snakes in recent years are increasingly comprised of captive-bred animals, the majority of snakes are still wild-sourced (> 60% between 2015 and 2017), including IUCN-listed species, with potentially detrimental impacts on conservation status. Further, the CITES Trade Database reveals geographic regions where venomous snakes are sourced from the wild, posing potential risks to snake catchers, traders, and pet owners. The database also documents the movement of non-native snake species through trade, with implications for conservation of native species. This study represents the first global analysis focused specifically on CITES-listed snake trade using the CITES Trade Database.

The first genetic assessment of wild and farmed ball pythons (Reptilia, Serpentes, Pythonidae) in southern Togo

The ball python (Python regius) is the world’s most commonly traded python species for the “exotic” pet industry. The majority of these live snakes are produced via a number of python farms in West Africa that have been in operation since the 1960s and involved with “ranching” operations since the 1990s. However, to date no thorough taxonomic review or genetic studies have been conducted within its range, despite the fact that the evaluation of a species’ genetic variability is generally considered mandatory for effective management. We used mtDNA sequence data and eight polymorphic microsatellite markers to assess the underlying population genetic structure and to test the potential of the nuclear markers to assign farm individuals to wild reference populations in southern Togo. Despite the relatively large distances between sample locations, no significant genetic population structure was found, either in mtDNA sequence data or in the microsatellite data. Instead, our data indicate considerable gene flow among the locations. The absence of a distinct population subdivision may have resulted from an anthropogenic driven admixture of populations associated with commercial wildlife trade activity in recent decades. Given the ongoing largely unregulated nature of the commercial ranching of ball pythons in West Africa, should a wild release component continue, as a first measure we recommend that the Management Authorities should develop an action plan with specific release protocols for python farms to minimise any potential negative conservation impacts resulting from admixture (genetic pollution) between farmed and wild individuals.

Snake predation by the Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides

Tawny Frogmouths Podargus strigoides have a diverse diet predominantly comprised of invertebrates. In contrast, vertebrates are only occasionally reported as prey. Records of reptiles as prey are scarce and no reptilian prey has been identified to species level. This is the first documented observation of a Tawny Frogmouth taking a live snake.

Applying skin-size limits for management of trade in Asian reptile skins

Abstract ContextEach year, millions of reptile skins are commercially exported from Southeast Asia for exotic leathers. Quotas are commonly used to regulate this trade, but quotas are sometimes exceeded and do little to ensure harvest sustainability. AimsTo explore the relationship between the size of live pythons and their skins, and to assess whether skin measurements can be used to enforce the application of limits on the size of harvested snakes. MethodsWe measured the body size of three heavily harvested python species (Malayopython reticulatus, Python breitensteini and Python brongersmai) in Indonesia and Malaysia and examined the relationship with skin length, skin width, the size of the ventral scale and its adjacent dorsal scale. Key resultsMeasurements of 2261 pythons showed strong relationships between the size of live pythons and measurements made on their skins. Skins can be stretched 30% longer than the body length of snakes from which they came and inter-facility and country differences in stretching technique result in different relationships between the sizes of live snakes and the measurements made on their skins. Male and female Malayopython reticulatus differed in their skin dimensions relative to the size of the live snake, but these differences were minor. ConclusionsDespite variations in stretching techniques, in functional terms, this variation is minor (maximum 3.5% relative to each mean measurement) and does not limit application of skin sizes for regulating trade within an acceptable level of error. However, differences in the stretched length of Indonesian and Malaysian skins were much greater (5.9% of the mean length of skins), and, thus, each country should apply its own limits and predictive tools. ImplicationsThe strong relationship between the skin size and the size of the live snake offers great potential for regulating trade by using skin-size limits. Inspection of the size of skins can be used to enforce harvest-size limits and focus harvesting away from sexes and life stages most critical for population persistence. This management tool has numerous advantages over current regulatory practices (quotas) and should be considered for management of trade in Asian reptile skins.

St. George the Slav slayer. Brief introduction to Slavic people and their inclusion in the states of Kubrat and Asparouch

The cyclical 12-year calendar is marked each year by its zodiacal symbol. Among them is the year of the astrological, imaginary, heavently fire-giving dragon. The word „Sklav/Slav“ means heavenly dragon. The icon St. George, a victor, presented a murder of a dragon near a lake with sacrilegious girl, in which a symbolic murder of the Slav was concealed. In the lakes and rivers live snakes and St. George must kill a snake, not dragon, a symbol of the Slavs. Do scientists think that presidents, patriarchs of Slavic countries must necessarily change?