Famous sssnake catchers educate at conservation centre

SNAKE experts, Simon Keys and Siouxsie Gillett, originally from the United Kingdom, have become household names in South Africa thanks to their hugely successful National Geographic TV series, Snakes in the City.

The duo was recently invited to deliver a talk on snakes at Crocworld Conservation Centre near Scottburgh, with the emphasis on the vital role these creatures play in the well-being of humanity and why they should be protected.

According to Simon, snakes have yielded many medical breakthroughs over the years and without them, ‘disease would be everywhere’.

He added that the proteins snakes produce in their venom can highlight cancer cells, and are used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Black mamba venom is now also being used as a morphine substitute as it lacks the side-effects of the drug.

“It really frustrates and annoys us when people tell us that the only good snake is a dead snake,” he said, explaining that the young people today have the future of snakes in their hands.

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Over the years, the duo has saved some 2500 snakes from certain death or injury, returning them to their natural habitat. After the talk, guests were treated to a display and some of the braver souls even got the chance to touch the snakes.

Simon’s passion for snakes started when, at the age of 11, he and a few friends came across a bush snake – not a common sight in the United Kingdom due to growing development.

“I took it home and showed it to my parents. My mom, who has a massive snake phobia, told me to take it back and put it where I had found it,” said Simon.

He was subsequently allowed to keep one snake, a concession, he says, which turned out to be the biggest mistake his mother could have made.

Within six months, young Simon had amassed a collection of pythons, boa constrictors and within the next two years, his collection had grown to include 88 venomous snakes – all kept in his parents’ home.

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This collection included king cobras, mambas, and some 20 species of rattlesnake.

Simon and his then wife, Nadine Keys, had already shot the first season of Snakes in the City.

Siouxsie was Simon’s employer back in the UK, where they both worked at a reptile shop and when he received a call asking if he’d be interested in making a follow-up season of the show, he and Siouxsie jumped at the chance. The show is now entering its sixth season.

For the duo, snake callouts can range from anything between 20 callouts to a 120 per month depending on the season. Locals attending the show, of which many included children, were very excited to see the snakes.

“Education is the most important thing. People are very ignorant when it comes to animals, especially snakes,” he said.

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