•••
••
CO L UMN ••
Snakes in and around the farmhouse
> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33
necked cobras are also found here and mole snakes
are often found in the area from Bothaville to
Bultfontein.
IDENTIFICATION OF POISONOUS SNAKES
Adders
Adders are short and fat. They don’t move very
much and usually lie very still in one position. The
poison of adders is cytotoxic, which means that
it attacks tissue, muscle and skin. It also causes
necrosis and secondary infections.
Cobras
Cobras are longer, thinner snakes. They are identified by their standing and hooded posture. Their
poison is neurotoxic, which means that it attacks
the central nervous system. When you are bitten
by a cobra, you will experience symptoms within
30 minutes.
Tree snakes (Boomslange)
Tree snakes are long and they have large, eggshaped eyes. The males are green and the females
brown. Their poison is hemotoxic, which means
that it results in coagulation of the blood. The
worst thing about this type of toxin is that symptoms may only occur after 36 hours. Tree snakes
are found everywhere, but they are no longer as
abundant in the Free State.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU BUMP INTO A SNAKE?
Keep your family and pets away from the snake.
Phone one of the numbers listed at the end of
the article, or contact the fire brigade. Important!
Someone must watch the snake until help arrives.
Don’t try to scare away the snake or to kill it.
Dodkins assured me that the snake will fight back.
It will try to get away and if this is not possible
and it feels threatened, it will go for you.
BREEDING WITH SNAKES
It is no so easy to keep and breed snakes. Many
aspects have to be taken into account. They must
be kept at the right temperature, for instance.
Ashley has a permit to catch, transport and release
snakes. The general public is not allowed to pick
up a snake, transport or keep it in captivity and
every province has its own rules in this regard. “It
entails a lot more than just putting a snake in a
box to admire it.”
PHOTOS: ASHLEY DODKINS AND RIAN VILJOEN.
SENWES Scenario • OCT/NOV 2016
35
CONTACT NUMBERS:
Northwest
The Herpetological Society is in
Klerksdorp and the following people can be contacted:
Ashley Dodkins @ 083 983 8573
Gerry Green @ 082 966 3058
Johan Vorster @ 061 685 2560
Free State
Bloemfontein:
Carl Jackson @ 083 459 0086
Vaal Triangle:
Paul Rabiega @ 083 492 6315
Bethlehem, Clarens, Paul Roux,
Fouriesburg and Kestell:
Jean-Pierre Lees @ 072 979 23 64.
Rinkhals
WEES GEREED
WANNEER
DIE REËN VAL!
Dis nou die tyd om u planter monitering,
kunsmis en kalk toedieners asook spuit
toerusting te hersien vir die komende seisoen.
Ronin System Solutions verskaf parte, fasiliteer
waarborge en installasies. Indien U n nuwe sisteem wil
bekom, kontak Ronin vandag vir die beste pryse!
+27 (0) 11 608 3666