‘Snake wrangler’ helps KZN communities

Published Aug 24, 2015

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Durban - Nick Evans runs the KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian and Reptile Conservation programme, which has also been a chapter of the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organisation since February.

“A large part of this programme, apart from snake removals, is to educate as many people as possible about these misunderstood animals, particularly snakes. This is all in an attempt to prevent so many snakes from being slaughtered.”

The “snake wrangler” has assisted communities across Durban, including a group of people who had been sharing their settlement with a 2-metre long black mamba in April.

Since then, Evans has been holding talks at various different locations all over Durban, including a special-needs school, quarries, rural township communities, children’s shelters, student groups, interest groups, the Highway Hospice and old age homes.

“My talks are focused on snake awareness and identification. To help people in learning to identify snakes, I bring along some live and local snake species. If people can see snakes up close, they get a better understanding of what they look like, and what sizes they are. It really helps in improving one’s identification skills.”

Apart from showing people harmless snake species, he usually showed people venomous species too, including the Mozambique Spitting Cobra, and the iconic Puff Adder.

“This is done in a safe and secure way. People need to know which snakes to be wary of, and which ones they don’t.”

Evans explained most people were scared of snakes, but this was because of a misunderstanding and lack of education.

“If people can learn a bit more about them, they’ll understand them better and have more respect for them. That’s what it’s all about: respect. People do not need to fear and hate snakes, but they don’t need to love them either. People just need to have a healthy respect for snakes, and leave them alone. There is no reason to ever kill a snake. They never want to attack or cause harm to people. They’re terrified of us.”

Snakes also formed a very important part of a healthy environment as predators of pest animals, and prey for other smaller animals, he said.

“Snakes do venture into and around homes. Not for any malicious reasons, contrary to popular belief. Snakes do not want to bite or kill people. They pay our homes a visit, to help us in a way. They come to take care of the rat and gecko problems, and to keep frog populations in check. So snakes are a bit like free pest control.”

He said people tended to create shelters for snakes in their gardens by leaving piles of wood, bricks or corrugated iron lying around.

“Most wildlife habitat has been destroyed, so this is also why animals come into our gardens. They need to find somewhere to live!”

He said snakes should be left alone, if spotted.

“A snake will disappear and you will probably never see it again. If you accidentally surprise a snake and get too close, just keep still, and move away slowly. Don’t panic. They’re more scared of us than we are of them.”

One of the biggest problems, he said, was people’s irrational fear of snakes because of myths and beliefs passed down from one generation to the next.

“People think if they kill a snake, its partner will come after them. People also think if they see one snake, there will be a whole family of them nearby, or a nest. This is not true, as snakes are solitary animals, only coming together to mate. They do not live or hunt together. Generally, snakes do not look after their eggs or babies, so when the young hatch, they have to fend for themselves.”

Snakes, he explained, would only bite when they had no means of escape and had to defend themselves, or if they were “continually harassed”.

“This is often why dogs are bitten, as they have a good go at snakes.”

Black mambas, which are seen as an aggressive species, bear the brunt of these untruths.

“But they are just nervous. They are very shy animals and don’t like to be seen.”

Snakes are often believed to be supernatural.

“There is no snake with seven heads. There have been snakes born with two heads, which is extremely rare, but this is just a deformity. They don’t tend to live very long.”

He dispelled another myth, saying a snake’s forked tongue could not hurt anyone, and were just used to smell.

“At the end of the day, the world’s most dangerous animal is the human being. Worry more about them, not snakes.”

*For reptile or amphibian educational work, contact Evans at [email protected]

or visit the KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian and Reptile Conservation page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KZNHerpConservation

* Some useful contacts for snake removal:

Nick Evans (based in Sherwood) on 072 809 5806

Jason Arnold (based in Durban North) on 082 745 6375

Byron Zimmerman (based in Waterfall) on 082 894 6783

Daily News

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