DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– Whether you need to get rid of a garden pest, or just want a closer look at the fascinating creature. Catching a snake is possible, even for non-professionals.
Snakes can be dangerous, but by taking basic precautions, you can catch one with minimal danger.
Eswatini Antivenom Foundation held all day awareness courses on Saturday, teaching the young and old about snake handling and snake catching.
The event took place in Ezulwini, Luxy Garden an Asian restaurant located at Corner Palza, just above Super Spar Supermarket.
The overall attendance was impressive and attendees ranged from black people to white people everyone seemed eager to learn about snakes. The lessons were led by Kevin Fuller, the Foundation’s Project Leader.
He said education through social media was becoming more and more important in this fast-growing ‘information age’. He said face to face courses were more accurate and imperative.
He said for as much bad information as there was, they were countering that by providing the most accurate information on snakes as possible.
“We have members from all over the word, and from all walks of life. This includes professional biologists, educators, zoo keepers, and people who just are plain obsessed with herpetology (like me), as well as the curious, the knowledge seekers, and people looking to overcome their fear of snakes. We all work together to provide this invaluable resource,” he said.
The course was divided into two age groups, the kiddies section and the adult section. Lessons varied from the different kind of snakes found in the country and how to act when you come across
The classes were wrapped up with an intense demonstration on how to handle a snake. Everyone was eager to hold the snakes brought in by the Eswatini Antivenom Foundation.
…E12 000 FOR SNAKE CATCHING GLOVES
An interesting fact was shared by Eswatini Antivenom Foundation when delivering their lessons.
The project leader, Kevin Fuller shared that the proper gloves used for catching snakes or handling snakes was retailing at E12 000 and they were not sold in the country.
He mentioned this when he was delivering his lesson on how to wear proper gear when getting ready to handle a snake.
“You need the right equipment, we have these gloves here and they are sold in the United States of America (USA). They go for a whooping E12 000,” he said much to the surprise of the crowd.
He said the gloves were costly because they were highly safe to use when handling a snake. They protect one from snake bites and poisonous snakes.
He further told people to always tread carefully and be fully geared when preparing to catch a snake. In addition he said there were 63 snakes in the country and seven of them were dangerous tree snakes.
“Never pick up or attempt to move a snake. If you see a snake, back away slowly; a snake’s striking distance is about half the total length of the snake. Never place your hands in holes. Wear leather gloves if you have to handle debris, logs, rocks and other objects where a snake could be hiding,” he said.
BELOW IS A LIST OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SNAKES FOUND IN ESWATINI.
1. Mozambique spitting cobra
2. Snouted cobra
3. Forest cobra (vary rare)
4. Rinkhals
5. Puff adder
6. Boomslang
7. Vine snake
