Shawn Hefer (37), also known as Bite-Master, is a snake enthusiast and passionate about the preservation of snakes and other indigenous wildlife in South Africa. Shawn married Angelique (35) on April Fool’s Day in 2011.
- What is your occupation?
A sales executive for a cable manufacturing company, but I’m hoping to make a career change real soon.
- You’re known in Brakpan as a snake enthusiast. How did that come about and what about snakes interests you so much?
I have been working with animals since I can remember. We found a rather large Aurora house snake in our home growing up, and this is what sparked my interest in them. These mysterious and fascinating animals have an undeserving bad reputation. The more I get to work with them, the more I admire and respect them.
I have been involved with the African Snakebite Institute (ASI) for the past four or five years. I am an instructor at ASI and assistant to internationally acclaimed herpetologist, author of many books on snakes and reptiles, and my mentor, Johan Marais.
Our mission is to make people aware of how few of our roughly 173 species of snakes (in Southern Africa) are potentially life threatening, educating people on how to deal with problem snakes and how to safely remove them, and raising awareness about these awesome creatures. Of this 173 species, only 18 are considered deadly, while another 23 can administer serious bites, which may lead to the loss of limbs in some cases.
- Have you ever been bitten by a snake?
All the time. I have been bitten by snakes so many times that I have lost count. But not by venomous ones though, I’m way too scared to take unnecessary risks when it comes to dangerous snakes. My nickname “Bite-Master” is something I got from having been bitten by so many different animals. The greater majority while working with injured animals. I have the scars to prove it too.
- If you could be any type of snake, which one would you choose and why?
A Cape cobra, so I can deal with my enemies swiftly and effortlessly. Just kidding.
This is a real tough one. There are so many snakes I can associate with; I really cannot choose just one.
- You’re also interested in martial arts. What style do you practice?
I meddled with a couple of different arts through the years, but fell completely in love with Aikido, which I have been studying since October 1996. It’s almost 20 years now.
- Tell us more about it.
Aikido is a Japanese martial art, brought into the spotlight by the actor Steven Segal in the late 80s. I quickly learned not to believe everything you see on television, as Aikido has so many different aspects to it.
We have numerous Aikido practitioners who still actively train well into their 80s. Not too many martial artists can say the same.
Aikido teaches you the normal things you hear martial artists claim like discipline, concentration and focus, but what I value most is that it teaches students respect for one another. I think that respect is a quality that is overlooked by most people, and the world can sure do with a double dose of it three times a day.
