Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5)
Genre: Natural History, Herpetology, Zoology, Sri Lankan Wildlife, Medical Science

Book Review:
Dr. Ariaranee Gnanathasan's ''Snakes are Fascinating Creatures'' achieves something remarkable: it transforms a subject often associated with fear and danger into one of wonder and understanding. Written by Sri Lanka's foremost authority on snakebite, this book bridges the gap between scientific expertise and public accessibility.

The author's credentials are impeccable. As a Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Colombo, a member of the Sri Lanka Medical Association's Snakebite Expert Committee, and a clinician who has managed thousands of snakebite patients, Dr. Gnanathasan brings both academic rigor and practical experience to her subject. Her international recognition—including organizing the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Toxicology conference in Colombo—ensures that the information presented meets the highest scientific standards.

What makes this book particularly valuable is its dual focus. It presents snakes as ''fascinating creatures'' worthy of study and appreciation, while simultaneously addressing the serious public health concern of snakebite. The stunning photographs featured on the cover and throughout the book—including the green vine snake, python, ornate flying snake, green pit viper, Forstern's cat snake, cobra, and Sri Lanka flying snake—invite readers to see these animals with new eyes.

Renowned herpetologist Anslem de Silva's recommendation is telling: he endorses the book for ''the general public, for school children, teachers in particular the medical fraternity, especially those who live in high snakebite incidence areas.'' This broad audience reflects the book's versatility—it serves as both an educational resource and a practical guide.

For anyone living in or visiting Sri Lanka, particularly in the dry zone where human-snake encounters are more common, this book is invaluable. It replaces fear with understanding, myth with fact, and prejudice with appreciation. Dr. Gnanathasan has created a work that honors these ''fascinating creatures'' while serving the practical needs of communities that coexist with them.