Marloth young man protects community and snakes
"As long as I can remember I have had a passion for all reptiles"
MARLOTH PARK – A young man is on a mission to rescue snakes and keep residents safe.
Juan de Beer moved to Marloth Park in November 2016. He joined the honorary rangers and they put him through his first official snake handling course with Chris Hobkirk. After this course he has done another snake handling and first aid course with Johan Marais.
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He has all the necessary training, experience and permits which allow him to legally rescue, transport and release snakes in Mpumalanga.
De Beer joined Deidre Joubert at her Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre as an active volunteer. He has done the following courses through Joubert: IWRC’s fluid therapy course and IWRC’s RACE-approved basic wildlife rehabilitation course.
“As long as I can remember I have had a passion for all reptiles. In summer months I get anything from 60 to 80 call-outs per month and in the cooler winter months about 25 to 35 call-outs,” said De Beer.
The most common dangerous snakes in Marloth are Mozambique spitting cobras, southern twig snakes, puff adders, Bibron’s stiletto snakes, boomslang and black mambas. The common harmless snakes are the spotted bush snake, brown house snake, western yellow-bellied sand snake, marbled tree snake and the eastern tiger snake. We are also privileged to have the southern African python in Marloth Park.
In an effort not to interfere with the ecosystem of Marloth Park, all snakes rescued from homes in the area are released within the boundaries of the park.
If anyone has a snake in or close to their homes which could cause a problem or threat to themselves or the snake, they are asked to please keep a distance of at least five metres away. Try and keep your eyes on it while contacting your local snake handler. If not threatened the snake will move off. Do not try and catch or kill the snake because that puts you into a position to be bitten.
If you are bitten by a snake, please do not try and catch or kill it, you will be putting yourself or someone else in a position to be bitten again.
You must immediately contact Field Security paramedics on 082-828-1043 or Securicon Paramedics on 079-883-3350.
They are both available to assist with stabilising you and getting you to the nearest hospital.
De Beer has direct contact with Hobkirk from Lowveld Venom suppliers, Marais and Mike Perry who are leading herpetologists who can also assist with advice on snake bites.
He is available 24 hours a day to assist with snake removal, identification and/or information. Enquiries: 060-665-5000.
