Today is also World Snake Day – who’s got a pet snake?
World Snake Day is celebrated every year on July 16 to raise awareness about the different types of snake species and the important role they play in maintaining ecological balance. Did you know, for example, that there are over 3,500 species of snakes in the world, but only about 600 of them are venomous. Snakes have inspired fear and fascination in the minds of people for ages. These reptiles have gotten a bit of a bad reputation – and there are many myths associated with them. World Snake Day is celebrated every year on July 16 to raise awareness about the different types of snake species and the important role they play in maintaining ecological balance.
While most found in SA are not dangerous to humans, here are some of the most dangerous to note:
(Dendroaspis polylepis) The black mamba: Africa’s largest venomous snake and can grow to between 2.5 (8.2 feet) and 4.5 meters (14 feet), though 2 meters is more the average. It is one of the fastest snakes and can move at over 20km/hour. They reside in the North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Northern KwaZulu-Natal Provinces
(Bitis arietans) The Puff Adder: The snake that actually causes the most deaths is due to the fact that they are so well camouflaged and people often stumble across them. They are slow moving snakes that do not move when approached and highly venomous. It lives from the Southern Cape all the way to the Sahara Desert. The most widespread in Africa.
And then Naja Nivea – The Cape Cobra. one of the most common snakes in the Southern regions of South Africa and are found throughout the Cape Provinces, Free State and South Western regions of the Eastern Cape. They prefer fynbos, bush, Karoo.
