Sunningdale snake rescuer’s Facebook group grows from strength to strength
The group is open to anyone to join and it a useful resource for anyone needing assistance and for those sharing a love and passion for snakes.
WITH more than 58 000 members, the Snakes of Durban Facebook page has become a handy resource for residents in and around Durban and the province to identify snakes of all shades and sizes.
The page, which was started by Sunningdale resident and snake rescuer, Jason Arnold, was a way to help people wanting to identify and learn more about Durban’s snakes as well as fostering an understanding about snakes and the important role they play in the ecosystem.
The page is now a group and has always been open to the public.
On a daily basis, people from around the province post pictures and videos of snakes they’ve found in their garden, homes or in outdoor spaces.
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The group is run by Arnold and a group of 17 other admins, hand-picked by him for their expert knowledge and experience.
“If I remember correctly I set the group up in 2014, so it’s 10 years old. The main reason when I started it, with around 200 people, was to give people a place where they can learn about snakes as well as ask questions. It is also for people to send photos or videos when they encounter any snake, venomous or non-venomous, to get a quick identification. I ran the page myself up to the point we reached 20 000 members.
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“I needed help and asked some of my colleagues with knowledge about snakes to help me. Now we have 17 admins on the group made up of snake rescuers and reptile lovers. It helps so much when there is so much activity like there is currently with the heat. It would be unusual for a person who posts not to get a response within 30 minutes on the group. My hope for Snakes of Durban pages is for us to continue to grow from strength to strength,” he said.
Contact Arnold on 082 745 6375 for any snake-related emergencies.
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