LHS learners in the cobra’s hood

Learners of Lowveld High School recently got the opportunity to meet some of South Africa’s deadliest snakes up close and personal. The event was part of an educational tour under the guidance of Jason Stewart of Reptiles Rock.

Stewart introduced not only the green and black mamba, but also the boomslang, snouted cobra, Mozambique spitting cobra and the puff adder.

He gave a brief description of each species and also highlighted some of the myths that existed about them.

According to him, reptiles, especially snakes, are not often encountered and people mostly react according to what they have heard and not from what they know. “It is not true that all snakes are aggressive and not all of them are venomous,” Stewart reassured the kids. According to him another myth is that a snake’s heart is situated in its tail. “That is not true at all. A snake’s heart is almost in exactly the same position as where you would find the heart of a human.”
Stewart’s best advice: “Get to know them” and whenever someone encounters a snake – “stand still”. According to him it will most likely flee as soon as it realises it is not threatened.
With educational talks like this Stewart educates learners on the facts and creates awareness and also a better understanding of the reptiles.
According to him it is very important not to kill snakes as they play a crucial role in the ecosystem.
The learners sat big- eyed and listened carefully to everything he had to say. At the end of the talk they were given the opportunity to touch the South African python. Some of the brave pupils even held it for a while.