Today would be the day the truck went off the road right in the middle of my survey. Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue?
Semi Truck Accident on I-25 Near Casper Releases Hundreds of King Cobras
Casper, WY - July 30, 2024
In an extraordinary turn of events, a semi truck carrying a shipment of king cobras from a scientific research lab overturned on Interstate 25 near Casper early this morning, releasing hundreds of the venomous snakes onto the highway.
According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the accident occurred around 6:00 AM when the truck driver, attempting to avoid a collision with a deer, lost control of the vehicle. The truck veered off the road, flipped onto its side, and ruptured the containment units holding the cobras.
Emergency response teams, including wildlife experts and snake handlers, were dispatched to the scene immediately. Authorities quickly closed off a section of I-25 in both directions to ensure public safety and to facilitate the capture of the escaped snakes.
"We have a specialized team working to safely recapture the snakes and ensure they do not pose a threat to the public," said Captain Sarah Jensen of the Wyoming Highway Patrol. "Our primary concern is the safety of everyone in the vicinity."
The truck was transporting the cobras from a research facility in Colorado to another lab in Montana. The facility specializes in studying the venom of king cobras for potential medical applications, including pain management and anti-venom development.
Dr. Emily Carter, the head of the research team at the facility, expressed concern over the incident but emphasized that the snakes are not aggressive if left undisturbed. "King cobras are dangerous, but they typically avoid human contact unless provoked. We urge the public to stay away from the area until all the snakes are accounted for."
Local authorities have set up a perimeter around the accident site and are using thermal imaging technology to locate and capture the cobras. Residents in the nearby areas have been advised to stay indoors and report any sightings of the snakes to the authorities immediately.
As of now, there have been no reported injuries from the incident. However, the highway is expected to remain closed for several hours as the recovery operation continues.
"We are working as quickly and safely as possible to resolve this situation," said Jensen. "Public safety is our top priority, and we appreciate everyone's cooperation and patience."
I'm not real educated, but would thermal imaging work on cold blooded reptiles?
Thermal imaging just shows the contrast in temperatures. So If the snakes are a different temperature than the surroundings then you would be able to distinguish them.
