Snake scare

Richards Bay snake handler - Jan Combrinck with a python discovered at an Arboretum residence on Tuesday

Beware: Reptiles on the move as hot weather strikes

Scorching weather conditions and unusually heavy rains have led to extremely high - and dangerous - snake activity in the Zululand region. Having caught an average of six snakes a day in January alone, local snake handler, Jan Combrinck, told the Zululand Observer all snakes should be treated as extremely dangerous. This after a 4.8 metre python was captured at an Arboretum home last week after strangling a pet sheepdog to death.‘If a python can take a dog, it can easily eat a fully-grown man,’ said Combrinck. ‘Children would be easy picking. ‘People don’t need to be scared of the abundance of wildlife in Zululand, but must be aware of their surrounds. ‘We are not in the snake prey group but if you fiddle with it, it will bite you. ‘Rather be safe than sorry,’ said Combrinck. He warned people not to handle snakes even if they suspect they are harmless. This follows a recent incident near Zeerust in the North West Province where three people, including a female tourist from Germany, were bitten by a highly toxic boomslang after handling the snake. ‘All bites should be treated as a medical emergency as one can usually not be certain if the bite was from a venomous snake,’ said Professor Ken Boffard of the Trauma Unit at the Netcare Milpark Hospital. ‘Bites by snakes that are considered non-venomous can also cause infection or allergic reaction,’ said Prof Boffard.

Snake activity
Over the last few weeks, Combrinck said, he had captured a wide variety of snakes including pythons, forest cobras, puff adders, Egyptian cobra, green mamba, night adder, spotted bush snakes, redlip herald and house snakes. ‘Before rain, there is plenty of snake activity as the reptile stocks up on its diet before the miserable weather. ‘A bird aviary also attracts snakes as well as rats and mice,’ said Combrinck. Snake expert from African Reptiles & Venom, Mike Perry said puff adders, night adders, stiletto snakes and Mozambique spitting cobras caused 90% of poisonous snakebites in SA. In KwaZulu Natal, a high number of bites are caused by Mozambique spitting cobras, which are known to enter people’s shacks and bite individuals sleeping on the ground. ‘Most snakebites tend to occur in the evenings, as this is when many types commence hunting and when people cannot see them and consequently stand on them,’ Perry said. He advised people in the bush or veld to take steps to protect their lower legs from snakebites as this is where just about all bites occur. ‘I find it amazing people take so many measures to protect themselves against hazards in the workplace, but in the bush they wear shorts, which provide them with no protection against snake bites whatsoever.’ Emergency tips in the event someone has been bitten by a snake:
• If possible capture, or at least positively identify the snake, to allow for quicker and correct treatment.
• Get the patient to a medical facility as soon as possible.
• Keep the victim calm and quiet. Panic can help to circulate the venom through the body more quickly.
• Immobilise the bitten area and keep it below the heart.
• Avoid administering any pain killing or other medication unless on the direction of a qualified medical practitioner.
• Do not allow the victim to eat or drink anything and especially not alcohol.
• Do not administer snakebite serum unless instructed to do so by a qualified medical practitioner.