SNAKE HUNTERS! SEEING IS BELIEVING!

THE DANGEROUS SNAKE HUNTERS!

It was totally  unbelievable and astonishing to the bystanders when they saw two “professional snake hunters” searching and catching a poisonous snake in the residential area of Chuguni in Bagamoyo old town. 

A worried mother had reported to have seen a black snake slithering into the green bush in the undeveloped and unattended  three  medium density plots. The particular area is always seen with children playing near the plot, their favourite game of  hide-and-seek. The residents viewed this with great concern and employed the “professional snake hunters” to fish out the dreadful snake.

The hunters came prepared with locally made herbal medicine, applied on their bodies and with a whisk in his right hand went searching vehemently in and around every thick bush. One was seen thrusting his hand into any suspicion hole or under dry logs. At last, he sensed a strange smell at one particular point and knew this was it!

 He took a mouthful of some herb, quickly chewed it and then took almost half a cup of water and blew it on the place suspected to be the hiding place of the snake.

With a lightening move, he thrust his hand into the bush and within a fraction of a second he clamped the neck of the snake  which appeared to be struggling to free itself. It was a black shining cobra, a highly poisonous snake which can kill a person within thirty minutes.

 The “Snake Hunter”, Saidi Kibatari held his catch carefully and handed over to his teacher, a rugged-looking Juma Kissima (46) years old. His hands and feet bear witness to several snake bites and bruises because of the dangerous profession handed over to him by his grandfather. He learnt the job since he was twelve years old.

His nephew, 18 years old Ebrahim Dawoodi is learning the traditional job. They normally charge TShs. 35,000/= for a simple catch but could go higher for risky jobs. 

Not all snakes are poisonous! Poisonous snakes belong to two categories namely elapine or viperine. The elapine include cobras, mambas, coral snakes whose venom is mainly neurotoxic. The poison attack the nervous system directly. The second category, viperine  which generally include pitvipers, rattlesnakes, puff adder. Their poison is mainly haemotoxic which damages the respiratory organs and the respiratory system itself. 

A victim, whether a human being or an animal,  must be taken to the hospital without wasting any time after applying a proper first aid precaution. An injection of antivernin or antivenom is applied by a medical doctor. “The Professional Snake Hunters” said that they have their own herbal medicine and it takes less than five minutes to save the life of a victim.

Story and picture by Abdul Hai

www.bagamoyonews.blogspot.com  

The professional "snake hunter" Saidi Kibatari fishes out the deadly black cobra which was struggling to free itself from the tight clench of his left hand. Observe the cow tail whisk in his right hand which he used it as his protection.

Saidi Kibatari lowers himself to get the peculiar smell and he knows his catch is exactly where he thinks. Within a lightning speed, he spits a shower of herbal water on it and brings out the deadly poisonous cobra. Observe the cup of water at lower right corner.

The master expert Juma Kisima plays with the poisonous cobra snake after fishing it out from the bush where children are accustomed to play hide-and-seek in the bush. The visitor on right is Caroline Sohie, an architect by profession who was totally astonished after witnessing the dramatic event. She was totally astonished!

Residents of Chuguni, Bagamoyo watching curiously the "snake hunters" catching the deadly cobra snake which could have been very dangerous for their children playing near the open site, undeveloped and unattended empty plots.