Gaboon Viper in Philadelphia Zoo

This picture show the head of a West African Gaboon Viper. We took this picture when we visited the Philadelphia Zoo on 22nd March 2008. This viper head was so big that we did not need to use our Nikon Micro lens on the camera. This kind of viper can grow to longer than six feet and six inches in diameter. It is one of Africa's largest venomous snakes. The color of its head looked like a leaf and so their preys would not notice its existence nearby.

It is dangerous and we would only want to see it in zoos or pictures. In the wild, we really do not think it is safe to see such a viper that close. So, we think zoo is a wonderful place. We have a chance to see the animals and we do not want to see them in the wild.