The thought of seeing a snake or even touching it, sends shivers down most people’s spines.
The thought of seeing a snake or even touching it, sends shivers down most people’s spines.
How would you react and who would you call if you saw one slithering in your garden? To ease everyone’s minds, Basil Mills, Grahamstown historian, snake catcher and animal rehabilitator presented a talk to senior citizens of the University of the Third Age at the Public Library in Hill Street on Thursday.
While addressing the group about various types of snakes, Mills said "no matter how small or big a snake can be, they are all dangerous." He also said that we must not forget that they are also God’s creation and they serve a purpose in the natural world. One of the snakes that he spoke about were puffadders which are good climbers and swimmers. He further explained that they are the fastest strikers in the world and that their thick bodies are designed for ambush. "This snake uses every single muscle in it’s body to move and can be life threatening," says Mills. He also gave everyone an opportunity to feel the skeletal structure of a mamba.
During the presentation entitled "Snakes Alive", some curious onlookers were eager to see the type of guest that Mills had in a blue trunk that he had brought along. "What kind of snake have you got in there?" inquired one of the women from the audience. Before responding, Mills took out a hot water bottle which he uses to keep the snake warm, then he took out a stuffed snake which he syas is "a companion for the snake." Finally the moment that everyone was waiting for, a 10 foot long Burmese python called Nikita weighing 40kg uncoiled itself from the trunk. According Mills, he uses 12-year-old Nikita as an ambassador animal to educate people about ways to identify snakes, how to react and who to call if they see it. He says people should take all precautions when they come across a snake by trying to be calm and calling a snake catcher, the Fire Department or a conservation centre.
When it comes to snake bites, he said that various snakes have different anti-venoms but there isn’t one for a sea snake. "When bitten, you must wrap a bandage on the wound immediately to stop the venom from spreading but don’t apply a bandage if you have been bitten by an adder," he said. He also urged people to be careful when approaching a snake because there are some that might seem dead while they are just pretending but can strike if you approach.
As they are cold blooded, Mills says snakes tend to stay in places such as compost heaps to keep warm. When commenting about her experience of touching the snake, Hillary Allen said she found it very interesting and entertaining. The organiser, Helen Crawford described Nikita as being cold and smooth. She also said the idea of the talk was because people are so afraid of snakes, they don’t know much about them.
