Hluhluwe snake catcher’s life-saving mission stalled without wheels

Snake Pharm faces life-and-death situations daily, rescuing people from some of the deadliest snakes in Zululand.

Based in Bushlands, Hluhluwe, founder Donald Schultz is called to areas all over the region, from removing a spitting cobra from a pit toilet in a rural homestead, to extracting a black mamba from the ceiling of a children’s hospice in Ingwavuma.

“We help people from Mtuba to Jozini, Pongola to Nongoma, and reliable transport is not just needed, it’s the difference between life and death,” said Schultz.

Snake call-outs are free of charge, but their trusty vehicle, which has carried them across dirt tracks, rivers and the bush for over seven years, blew a head gasket recently. The team is without wheels, thus appealing for help with funds.

“Just yesterday, we drove five hours to capture a deadly boomslang that was in a local school’s toilet. The snake had been living there for two weeks, making the kids too terrified to use the facilities,” said Schultz.

The urgency of their work is vital, considering that in some communities, the nearest hospital is more than two hours away.

“And when someone is bitten by a black mamba, they may have only 30 minutes to live. Without this vehicle, it almost guarantees fatalities,” urged Schultz.

“We urgently need your help to repair or replace our intervention vehicle so we can keep doing what we do best: saving lives, preventing tragedy, and protecting both people and wildlife.

“Please support Snake Pharm today – together we can continue to make sure no life is lost for lack of help.

“If you see us on the road, remember to wave. And if we are speeding, it means it’s an emergency,” he said.

Snake Pharm also educates residents about wildlife, and is researching a low-cost snake antivenom.

Follow the link to the Back-a-Buddy campaign: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/snake-pharm-vehicle-repairs

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