A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa
Johan Marais with Luke Kemp
Struik Nature
Review: Beverley Roos-Muller
Ssssnakes! Just by reading that word, you’re already beginning to squirm, right? It’s unsurprising, as our liminal brain is designed to see snakes as potentially deadly, so our reaction to them is instinctive. But in fact, they are really rather wonderful and often beautiful creatures, and very good for the ecology in that they prey on vermin.
I’m quite keen on them (admittedly with the exception of the puff adder – I’ve come close to stepping on a couple and was less than thrilled). My last encounter was with my family in Florida a few years ago; four of us held (with permission) a 100kg albino Burmese python named Miss Daisy. My “brave” brother Paul insisted that I hold her head… she was beautiful but surprisingly heavy to pick up.
There are so many myths about snakes that it is worth unpicking a few. They are not slimy but are dry and smooth and rather nice to stroke. They smell with their tongue, which is why they seem to “taste” their prey. They don’t chase after people; I lived for a while in what was then called Zululand and it is commonly believed that mambas are very aggressive and will chase you down. We occasionally found them stretched out on our lawn. In fact they are rather nervous; if you come across any snake, says the author, take five steps back and remain still. Don’t jump around, it may scare them!
They don’t hang on branches of trees to bite those walking below, and they don’t usually bite the second or third person walking on a path in the bush. It’s likely they will move away, but if not seen, it’s more likely the first person might step on it and get bitten. And they are solitary, so don’t “come in pairs”, though female snakes, ready to mate, may attract males.
The author, Johan Marais, is the CEO of the African Snakebite Institute, and a conservationist and photographer. He notes that there are about 175 species of snakes found in southern Africa of which 45 are endemic. Snakebites are not common, and just a handful of untreated people die from them each year, whereas large numbers of these “feared” creatures are killed, usually unnecessarily. They indeed have more to be afraid of humans than we do of them.
Just like great white sharks, we need to learn to love them for what they are, and how to move in their environment and how to manage when they appear. This is a fascinating book full of information and beautiful colour photographs. A fine addition for your nature library.