Donald Schultz is a renowned venom expert, writer, photographer and adventurer. He’s got one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet, but the South African risks his own life in the name of scientific discovery, exploration and saving lives – collecting bio-specimens for ground-breaking research.
Whether he is harvesting venom from a deadly black mamba’s fangs or collecting DNA from a lion, Schultz knows these samples could contain the blueprint for undiscovered antivenins, or even a cure for a life-threatening disease.
The Venom Hunter (on Animal Planet on Sundays at 6.15pm) and Wild Recon host was in Durban doing research and shooting new episodes for his latest show, Tracking Cobras: The Other Side of the Bronx Cobra Story.
The show looks at what happens to snakes when they are removed from their natural habitat. Cobras don’t belong in New York, but the show follows some resident cobras in Zululand to get their side of the story.
The forest cobra is one of the biggest and most intelligent African snakes, and with a team of conservationists and scientists, Schultz will track their daily movements. I chatted to him about snakes and his show and Schultz managed to change my opinion on the slithery creatures.
Why the fascination with snakes?
(Laughs) That tone of voice you have right now is funny. I’ve been fascinated by snakes since I was like six years old. I worked at the snake park at weekends, just so I could learn more about them. At six I’d be handling the smaller, less venomous snakes, but when I was nine, I was handling the bigger snakes. I hardly had time for girls. (Laughs) I just knew that when I was older, I’d be doing something to do with snakes.
How many of them have you handled?
I have no idea. I have handled so many of them, many different species, too, all over the world. From the huge guns to the rare snakes that you see only once every five years.
Ever been bitten?
Oh yes, a few times. I was in hospital for a week after being bitten by a snake while I was back in South Africa. South Africa has some of the most venomous snakes in the world, so I was very lucky to have acted quickly. But generally snakes only attack when they feel threatened. I was in a box with snakes last year in Las Vegas to create awareness about the plight of snakes.
I wouldn’t say I’m some sort of “snake whisperer”, but I understand their mannerisms.
You’re putting chips in snakes to monitor them. Is this part of your research?
Well, this is a pilot project that we are doing now. What we do is put a chip into the snake to monitor its movement and how close it can get to humans. The study is about determining whether translocated cobras (those captured in sugar cane fields and released in protected areas) differ in their movement patterns compared with resident individuals.
How do you ensure that no snakes are harmed during this process?
We can’t guarantee that they won’t be harmed, but we try our best to make sure that there’s little to no damage.
Where have you shot the show and which country do you think has the most fascinating snakes?
I’ve shot the show on five continents. What I have noticed is that South Africa has the biggest biodiversity.
What type of snakes do we have in KZN and how dangerous are they?
From spitting cobras to house snakes, KZN has them. A black mamba is very rare and dangerous, so I’ve learnt to never mess with it. I value my life (Laughs). Snakes would rather not attack you because it takes a whole lot of energy from them. Trust me, they’d rather not attack.
What would you say to people who are afraid of snakes or dislike snakes?
Well, snakes are great for conservation. Snakes help balance the ecosystem by eating rats and frogs.
And where do you live now and how often do you come home?
I have lived in LA for the past 15 years. I come home every three to six months. I hardly ever stay away for long periods unless there’s a reason I can’t come back. - Saturday Star