I find an intersting bit of humor in this research, done in italy. It is kind of like insect repellent research on the north pole in the middle of winter. How many seriously venomous snakes live in Italy? Not a criticism at all, just my twisted look at the topic!
Snake venom toxicology studies take place in modern lab facilities with lab animals as test subjects, neither of which (or the range of scientific staff) being required to be in Africa.
Venom samples can and do also come from not just the wild, but Zoos and private reptile parks. A range of venom study centres in one country alone can each hold a constant inventory of venoms from a wide variety of both native and non-native global species. Its logistically much easier to milk captivity snakes every fortnight or so, than just constantly trying to rely on capture and milking in the wild.
If you have the required captivity snakes in the same city, state or country as the venom study centres all the better.
-Bulletproof and Waterproof don't mean Idiotproof.
