An American PhD Declined Job Offers from His Hometown to Catch Snakes in Hubei, China

"It doesn't hurt. It's not venomous," says a foreigner with a bleeding arm, calmly reassuring his companions as he holds a long snake in the remote mountains of Shennongjia.

Just seconds ago, he was bitten, yet now he's admiring the big snake as if he's discovered a treasure. In search of snakes, he has been trekking through the mountains for hours.

This "pain-resistant" foreigner is Kevin Messenger, an amphibian and reptile specialist from the United States and professor at College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University.

As a PhD jointly trained in China and the United States, Kevin was brought on as an external expert by Shennongjia National Park in June of this year. He was invited to conduct long-term field studies in the area. The rare sight of snake-catching that most people seldom witness is just a typical workday for him.

Over the years, Kevin has carried out scientific expeditions in multiple ecological reserves, earning him the affectionate nickname "Snake Doctor" among his colleagues.

The "Snake Doctor" in China 

Born into a family of veterinarians, Kevin developed a unique fascination with snakes from an early age. At the tender age of three, he fell in love with these mysterious creatures upon first encountering a python his father had brought home. While many people view snakes as cold-blooded and dangerous, Kevin sees them as "the coolest things in the world." As he grew older, Kevin resolutely pursued an academic path dedicated to the study of snakes. 

In May 2006, at 24 years old, Kevin was on the verge of graduating from the University of North Carolina. Just before graduation, he serendipitously received an offer to conduct an amphibian and reptile survey in Shennongjia. After more than three months of trekking and exploration, Kevin found himself deeply captivated by the area's natural beauty and biodiversity. Subsequently, he pursued further studies at Nanjing Forestry University, where he increasingly realized the vast potential for amphibian and reptile research in China's expansive and diverse landscape. Consequently, after completing his doctoral studies, he declined job offers in the United States, opting instead to continue his research in China.

Kevin's work involves conducting ecological surveys and conservation efforts across various regions. He spends approximately three-quarters of the year in the field, accompanied by the animals he studies. During his forays into the mountains and forests, he occasionally discovers "new friends" previously unknown to science. Upon such encounters, he diligently pursues his findings – photographing, collecting samples, determining classifications, and writing reports. He has already successfully registered a new species of horned toad, Megophrys ombrophila, in the biological world. 

"You could say I'm a bit of a workaholic because I'm always eager to find snakes and frogs. I get extremely excited whenever I see them," he admits. Driven by his passion, Kevin finds deep enjoyment in this work, which others might view as exhausting or even dangerous. In May 2012, Kevin was bitten by a venomous snake in Shennongjia and briefly lost consciousness. However, after just two days of recovery in the hospital, he returned to work. This was his first venomous snake bite in China, and despite the perilous situation, he maintained that "the snake was not at fault." In his view, most snakes are quite docile, and biting is merely a defensive behavior. 

Shennongjia is renowned for its rich natural diversity, and it has become the most frequently visited location in Kevin's ecological survey work. During his 16th visit to Shennongjia, Kevin discovers around 10 new species. Today, Kevin visits almost every month to assist Shennongjia National Park in conducting surveys and researching amphibians and reptiles. 

After completing field surveys, Kevin releases the captured snakes back into nature." Protecting nature is protecting ourselves; it's a common task for all humanity," Kevin says.

For Kevin, Shennongjia was the first place he explored in China and the first place that made him fall in love with the country. 

"This is my friend; we've known each other since 2006," Kevin says cheerfully, greeting a forest ranger he encounters in Shennongjia National Park. After completing his scientific expedition and heading back down the mountain, he is warmly invited by villagers to join them for a casual meal at home.

"Nearly 20 years have passed, and the people here are still as warm and friendly as when I first came." At the villager's dinner table, Kevin raises his glass filled with corn liquor and toasts with everyone, appearing like a long-time local resident familiar with the old neighbors. 

In Kevin's eyes, having lived in China for so long, he has deeply integrated into the local culture and customs. This May, he held his wedding in his wife Yecheng Lee's hometown in Anhui. His father came from the United States to witness the ceremony and, upon returning home, told relatives that his son now has a family in China as well.

With more family members in China, Kevin's "dancing with snakes" has become even sweeter. This year, Yecheng Lee also joined Kevin's adventures, traveling north and south with him. Recently, following Kevin to Shennongjia in search of snakes, she was captivated by the enchanting ecology here and gained a deeper understanding of Kevin's pursuits. 

Since coming to China, Kevin often expressed his love for the country on social media platforms. Beautiful scenery, delicious food, daily snake-catching adventures, making friends... His vivid posts with both text and images often prompt his foreign friends to ask for more updates.

"Once you've lived in China, you'll know how wonderful this place is," Kevin says. He wants to stay in China for at least another ten years, and if all goes well after that, he might stay even longer.

 

Source: Hubei Daily (Reporters: Peng Yibo, Chen Shaozhe, Zhang Can) 

Video: Peng Yibo, Chen Shaozhe, Zhang Can, Ma Yalun, Yu Yu, Ning Fang

Edited by: Yu Siwei

Reviewed by: Tang Xiaoyu, Chen Huijun, Sun Ling