The joy of rescuing snakes

Snake rescuers like me always get asked the same question: have you ever been bitten? I’ve dealt with mambas, giant pythons, cobras – some of the world’s deadliest snakes – and, thankfully, the answer is no. But why do people always assume the worst about these wonderful creatures? People love to hate snakes. They are the Biblical baddy, the reptile that represents evil. Having nursed a sick cobra back to health, gently holding his head up during a daily bath, I know this depiction is deeply unfair.

I’ve long been fascinated by these animals. My father’s family landed at the Cape in 1795 but I was the first to develop a love for snakes. Everyone I knew killed them even though most of the species in Africa are harmless to humans. In a few, the venom can be lethal.

This affection came about after a school trip to the zoo. How remarkable, I thought, that something without arms or legs could swim and climb trees.