Venomous snakes removed in Vaal Triangle

Netcare 911’s Nick van der Walt, a trained snake handler, recently removed numerous rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) from properties in Vanderbijlpark and Midvaal.

The snakes were safely released within its habitat, far from humans.
According to Shawn Herbst, spokesperson for Netcare 911, one of the many traits of the snake is to play dead with its body turned upside down leaving its mouth open.

“This makes this species particularly dangerous as a person may come too close to it, causing it to react by spitting venom or attempting to bite,” he said.

Should you encounter a snake contact the City of Ekurhuleni’s appointed snake catcher Christopher Tobane on 011 999 3029.

Quick facts about a rinkhals:
• Medium-sized rinkhals can measure between 1.2m and 1.5m. Its young average is between 16cm to 22cm.

• It gives birth to up to 20 to 30 live young but can birth up to 63 in late summer• A rinkhals is a spitting snake and form part of the cobra family. Although its venom is potentially deadly, human fatalities are rare.

• A bite from this snake will result in pain, swelling, blistering and tissue damage. In severe cases, the patient may experience difficulty breathing.

• It can spit its venom up to a distance of 2.5m

• Contrary to popular belief rinkhals are not aggressive snakes and will do anything in its power to avoid confrontation. Defence mechanisms include spitting and ‘playing’ dead.

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