Being seen driving ‘Olive’ our old Bio-Ken Snake Farm land-rover a group of building site workers pulled me over to say very proudly that they had just killed a very dangerous Green Mamba Dendroaspis angusticeps that tried to attack them while they were eating breakfast in a road side kiosk. On inspecting the snake I found that they had killed a juvenile Speckled Bush Snake Philothamnus punctatus, a non venomous species that is completely harmless.
I was actually quite annoyed about the whole thing but getting angry and shouting is not going to change their perception of these very misunderstood creatures. I explained with great enthusiasm the beauty and importance of the said snake species and showing them the amazing colours and markings managed to put it into context by saying how do you feel when you see a group of children jumping up and down when they have just killed a beautiful sun bird? One replied “yes! such a waste isn’t it”. “EXACTLY!” I said and left the group smiling but feeling quite sad about the whole thing. We could not save this one but I am sure I have already saved the next Bush Snake that crosses the path of either of the four workmen. Photo by Royjan Taylor
Technorati : Philothamnus punctatus, Speckled Bush Snake
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Mar 1st Kavitha G USD 17.60
3 Comments
Yikes! Poor fellow…
You should add a link to the James Ashe Antivenom Trust blog too … http://www.jamesashe.com/blog … and talk about the lifesaving work you do in producing antovenom!
So sad to know that such terrible things happen…really sorry that this magnifficent creatures are being killed by fear and ignorance…How about if you organize some mobile teams that could educate native people about the importance to conserve snakes (all kind of it), their vital part in all ecosystems, and the right they have to live in a planet that house every day more and more endangered species. Such proyect would, for sure, help someway in the preservation of this important reptiles.