Category Archives: Herp Attacks

A South Coast construction worker yesterday described his encounter with a black mamba – the latest in a series of victims who have recently been confronted with venomous snakes in KwaZulu-Natal.

Scaffold erector Eric Bheyakhe Mazubane, 40, was bitten by a black mamba at the Sappi Saiccor paper mill in Umkomaas on Monday.

“I was on the second floor of the building and had just come back from my lunch break. My gloves were lying on the floor, and when I bent over to pick one of them up, the snake bit me. I did not even see it at first.”

The mamba struck swiftly, catching Mazubane on his left wrist before he realised what had happened.

“I felt something and then I saw I was bleeding. I was shocked and I told my colleague that I was bitten by a snake. Everyone was so confused.”

He was taken to the clinic on the premises before Netcare 911 paramedics treated him, and was then transported to St Augustine’s Hospital.

Netcare 911 spokesman Jeff Wicks said Mazubane’s co-workers had killed the mamba and taken it to the hospital.

Tragedy struck at the NYSC Camp, Yikpata in Edu local government area of kwara state as one of the corps members, Shuaibu Tijani with registration number KW/10A/1881 mysteriously died as result of snake bite in the camp.

State coordinator Mrs Makinde Comfort who broke the sad news Tuesday at the camp during the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2010 Batch A corps members regretted that spirited efforts made to save the life of the youth corp member who was rushed to the university of Ilorin teaching hospital failed.

Two Corp members who spoke with Vanguard on conditions of anonymity over the development said that the snake bite was as result of the environment that was not fumigated before they were allowed into the camp.

“we used to see many reptiles here, but it wouldn’t have been so if the environment had been properly fumigated before we were allowed in here” she stressed.

Explaining the tragedy, another corp member said the late colleague was going to pray in the mosque at about 7pm with his slippers on, whereas they had been warned to always put on their boot when the incident happened.

The corp member noted that the medical personnel around immediately came to the rescue to administer many anti viral drugs on the corper so as to neutralize the poison stressing that the efforts failed as they used about five different types because they could not ascertain the exact nature of the poison inflicted.

Eventually he said the corper was rushed to the teaching hospital where he died some four days later.

Already, the state government has ordered the perimeter fencing of the camp so as to avoid reptiles infiltrating into the camp to wreck further damage on the youth corps members while on the camp.

Governor Bukola Saraki who was represented by his deputy Chief Joel Ogundeji at the ceremony also gave a directive that no organization, be it private or government in the state should give corps member less than N5000 as monthly allowance, but that it could be more.

The state coordinator however urged the corps employers,” to adequately utilize the already sharpened skill of these youths for the overall good of their establishments. In addition, good welfare packages like transport accommodation or money in lieu should be provided for them with a view to motivating them to effectively discharged their responsibilities”

A LABRADOR bitten by a red-bellied black snake in Maryborough on Monday morning is recovering at a vet clinic in Charleville.

Owners Reegan and Karyn Cunningham had brought Sophie, 9, to Maryborough for a weekend visit and were packing the car for the return journey when Sophie’s back legs suddenly weakened after playing in the Bell Hilltop backyard between the pool and veranda.

She was lifted in to the car but progressively worsened during the nine-hour drive home.

A Charleville vet’s suspicion that Sophie had been bitten by a snake was confirmed when she responded to an anti-venom vaccine.

The snake that bit Sophie was not seen on Monday but the property owners correctly guessed the breed was red-bellied black as neighbours had reported seeing one move through the yard some weeks ago.

Fraser Coast snake-catcher Roy McGrath said red-bellied black snakes were common in the Bell Hilltop area.

The breed lives in well-watered areas, swamps and wet eucalypt forests, such as the nearby Faye Smith Wetlands.

“Red-bellied black snakes are venomous but they’re good in that they’re cannibalistic – they clean up the young of eastern browns,” Mr McGrath said.

“They’re also very timid snakes. If you see one, wave a towel at it … and give me a call.”

Mr McGrath said that being a venomous snake, the red-bellied black was active during the day and dormant at night.

“Non-venous snakes are usually dormant by day and active at night.”

He said all snakes were generally more active at this time of year building up body fat in preparation for winter hibernation.

Mr McGrath estimated Fraser Coast vets would each treat about 17 dogs every year for snakebites.

Red-bellied black snakes are shiny black in colour with brownish tipped snouts, cream belly scales and red on the lower flanks. They grow to two metres in length. Their main prey are fish, frogs, cane toads, reptiles (including snakes) and small mammals.

Seek urgent medical attention for all suspected bites.

Police chief captain Joshua Tampubolon said the victim and friends were swimming in the Tembung River when the snake attacked on 21 March. It strangled and nearly swallowed the boy before villagers forced it to flee.