Dangerous snake encounter incidents

[RogerFraser]

PICS: Durban snake catcher brings back bitten dog 'from the dead'

https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/kw ... WQDdt8ZTzU

Durban - "Miraculous" is one word used to describe the survival of an Alaskan Malamute dog that was brought back from the brink of death after being bitten by a Black Mamba in Westville.

The dog received eight vials of antivenom.


It was an emotional roller coaster for Nick Evans of the KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian and Reptile Conservation and the dog's owner following the incident in Northcliffe Avenue on Monday.

Evans said the mamba had slithered onto a property and was confronted by three dogs and a security guard.

Evans said the dogs barked ferociously at the snake, while the guard attacked it with a stick, beating it to death.

"During the struggle and out of instinct, the dog named Diesel attacked the mamba, biting it two or three times. This action was going to result in the dog being bitten in return. Fortunately, the homeowners were present and heard the commotion. They noticed something wasn't right with their dog and rushed him to a vet," Evans said.

The two-and-a-half-year-old Diesel managed to walk into the vet but as he entered, he collapsed. Evans said the venom was taking effect.

"The vets immediately administered the two vials of antivenom kept on the premises, but it didn't seem to have too much of an effect. Diesel was crashing.
I was called in. At the time of the call, I was in Sherwood, which is about 10 minutes from St Augustine's Hospital. I knew the dog would need more than two vials. I knew exactly who would be able to help. I contacted Dr Kevin McEwen from St Augustine's," he said.

"I phoned him and he didn't hesitant into readying the antivenom for me. He prepared two vials and I raced over to Westville to collect them. Four vials is what saved Jasper, the lucky terrier who survived a mamba bite last year. Diesel was on a ventilator. His blood pressure had dropped, as had his heart rate. The neurotoxic venom quickly shutting his body down," Evans explained.

"The two vials were injected, and we waited. Those two extra vials barely stabilised him. We could see he wasn't going to improve without more antivenom," he said.

Evans said he contacted McEwen to ask for two more vials. He said when he returned to the vet, he could feel the mood in the room was anxious.

"Apparently Diesel had a seizure when I left. He had crashed completely. He was dead at a stage, before being resuscitated. It wasn't looking good at all for him. The two vials of antivenom were administered and again, it was a waiting game. However, he seemed to have stabilised. He wasn't breathing on his own, he was on a ventilator, but his vitals were stable," Evans said.



Diesel being treated at the Westville Veterinarian. Picture by Nick Evans.
Evans said when he looked at the snake's body, he found it to be a spectacular male specimen - 2.6m long, and well-fed!

"It was gut-wrenching to see this snake like this and to know what happened. The thought of the dog dying on top of all this was just worsening my mood. The dog owner phoned and was concerned that he wasn't improving. He asked if I could get more antivenom. So I consulted Dr McEwen and Arno Naude, my snakebite assistant. They said more antivenom could only do good," he said.

The dog owner fetched two vials from Hillcrest Vet.

Evans said Diesel was still stable, but his life was still on the line.

"He had started breathing by himself! A hugely positive sign! On Wednesday, he was starting to respond to sounds and being touched, particularly when his family went to see him! But he couldn't stand. On Thursday morning, I got the good news - Diesel was up on his feet! Ah! I was so relieved and excited! I went into see him. He was panting a whole lot, but walking around and loving his family," Evans said.

He said Diesel was very lucky and had a fighting spirit. Evans said usually dogs don't make it to the vet after a mamba bite.

Evans thanked Dr McEwen

"Without his prompt organisation of the antivenom, Diesel would have been dead before nightfall. Those four vials kept him alive and gave him the best possible chance," he said.

He also thanked Naude and the vets who assisted.

"Diesel's family was determined to see their dog live," Evans said.

He further explained that it was not the mamba or dog's fault.

"The snake did not intentionally attack the dog but when left without a choice, it had to defend itself, like any animal or human would. One can't blame the dogs either, as they act out of instinct, and perhaps want to protect their families. We see conflict like this every year, and its just horrible. At least this one ended well for the dog," Evans said.

Daily News

[Lisbeth]

I wonder how many vials a person would need

[Lisbeth]

Why knowing what black mamba venom does to the human body is crucial



Black mambas are extremely dangerous reptiles – in fact, many consider the species to be one of the world’s deadliest snakes. They are found in southern and eastern Africa, and are shy, evasive creatures. They won’t seek out human interaction. But if cornered or confronted, they will strike. And their venom is lethal.

Black mambas (don’t let the name fool you – they’re very rarely black, and are more usually a dark brown – it is the inside of the mouth which is black) probably cause the largest number of snake-related deaths in southern Africa. In a recent case, a South African judge died after being bitten by a black mamba while he was travelling in Zambia. But the data for the whole continent is limited, so the precise number isn’t known. This is chiefly because most of these deaths occur in rural parts of Africa with limited health infrastructure and other resources.

Sub-optimal mortuary facilities, inadequate professional manpower, poorly developed protocols and the lack of an efficient and reliable toxicology service means many of these deaths in Africa’s more rural areas are not properly diagnosed. It is most likely that these snakebite victims get buried without a thorough forensic pathological autopsy.

The black mamba is born with two to three drops of venom per fang. It is a front-fanged snake, with fangs up to 6.5 mm in length, located at the front of the upper jaw. An adult of the species has between 12 and 20 drops per fang. It takes just two drops of venom to kill an adult human. This means that even young black mambas are extremely dangerous.

Not much is known about the pathology of trauma of black mamba bites – that is, what the black mamba’s toxin does, physically, inside a victim’s system. We do know that the venom is neurotoxic and cardiotoxic. That means that it has a direct effect on the nerves and the heart.

The more we know, the better. If we know precisely what the toxin does, hospitals and clinics might be better prepared to treat those who’ve been bitten.

A recent case study

Recently my colleagues and I examined the case of a young man who was bitten by a black mamba in South Africa. He arrived at the hospital 20 minutes after being bitten and had already suffered cardiac arrest with accompanying hypoxic brain injury.

This was my third encounter with the victim of a black mamba bite. My first fatal encounter, in 2000, involved a 12-year-old girl who was bitten on the thigh by a black mamba. The second involved a British tourist who was accidentally bitten at a snake park, and who also died.

In this latest case, the co-workers of the young man who died were certain that the snake was a black mamba. This gave us, as forensic pathologists, an excellent opportunity to thoroughly investigate this matter. Oftentimes, the history is scant, with victims unable to properly identify the snake which bit them.

The forensic examination consists of a thorough macroscopic post mortem examination, followed by histological (microscopic) examination and blood tests.

A black mamba’s venom is complex. It interferes with transmission across the motor end-plate, which is where the nerves and muscles connect, so it will result in paralysis. The venom is also cardiotoxic, which means it may have a direct effect on the heart.

How to treat it

So what should you do if a black mamba bites you or someone around you?

The first priority is to transport the victim to an appropriate medical facility as soon as possible. First aid should focus on maintaining vital functions, such as respiratory support. Keep the victim still and try limit any unnecessary movement. Remove constricting items (for example rings and clothing), especially those close to the bite site.

The first-aid treatment of black mamba bites includes lymphatic retardation with the pressure immobilisation technique – in other words try and wrap a tight crepe bandage or tourniquet close to the bite site.

Medical management comprises continuous monitoring, making sure the airways are open, treating symptoms and the immediate administration of antivenom. The antivenom is injected intravenously because absorption is poor via the muscles. It’s also important not to inject into or around the bite site. In rare instances the victim may be put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, which is a way of providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory support to those whose heart and lungs are unable to provide oxygen to the body.

This combination of respiratory support and antivenom may save a person’s life. Over time, the antivenom will ease muscle paralysis and set the victim on the road to recovery.

Ryan Blumenthal is a Senior Specialist Forensic Pathologist and Associate Professor in the University of Pretoria’s Department of Forensic Medicine.

This article first appeared in The Conversation on 12 September 2019.

[Flutterby]

Scary!

[Lisbeth]

KZN snake catcher on baby watch after rescuing two pregnant green mambas in two days

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KwaZulu-Natal snake catcher Nick Evans could not believe his luck when he happened upon two pregnant green mambas - on two consecutive days.

He was called out to a house in Shallcross on November 6, where he found the first pregnant mamba.

"It's a beaut, she’s full of eggs," Evans can be heard shouting in excitement on a video as he holds the snake.

The slithery serpent was curled up behind a washing machine when he found it.

He told News24 green mambas were uncommon in areas like Shallcross as they generally lived in coastal areas. He suspects a small number of snakes may have found a new home in a river on a reserve close by.

The second mamba was found in a retaining wall on the premises of a local school in Tongaat on November 7.

At first glance, Evans thought the snake had just eaten but, little did know, he was in for his second surprise.

"I caught a pregnant one yesterday in someone's kitchen. That's very exciting," Evans told onlookers.

He explained to the crowd that it might have been looking for a spot to lay its eggs.

According to him, the first snake carried nine eggs, while the second had 10.

Evans will be on baby snake watch until the mothers give birth.

"Once they give birth, I'll feed and then release them," he said.

Last month, Evans rescued a pregnant 3.3m python from a river in KwaZulu-Natal.

[Richprins]

Mozambican spitting cobra joins KNP tourist from Down Under in shower

"Halfway through my shower I felt something around my feet, so I looked down and to my absolute horror, I saw a snake coiled around my feet!"

Stefan de Villiers and Linzetta Calitz

It is a fear that exists within many South Africans, especially in the Lowveld where about half of the national snake population exists. It’s called ophidiophobia, an extreme, overwhelming fear of these limbless reptiles with their long bodies.

A snake rearing its head from your shower’s drain, usually only exists in nightmares (where it should preferably stay) and the mere thought of it, is enough to send shivers down your spine.

But, as the old saying goes, “Africa is not for sissies.” Australian holidaymaker Lawrence Bowen experienced this during his visit to the Kruger National Park (KNP). He rightfully refers to his run-in with a Mozambican spitting cobra, as stuff of nightmares, which could have easily turned into a fight for survival.

Bowen returned to South Africa for the first time since the pandemic, after relocating to Melbourne 11 years ago, to celebrate his mother’s 80th birthday with her.
“We always try to include a trip to the Kruger when we visit,” he said. “I woke up at 05:00 wanting to get a head start as we were moving camps from Letaba to Satara that day (January 20). We had stayed at Letaba for four nights.

“At 05:00 the sun has not quite risen yet, so it’s still dark and I had to turn on the lights. I was the first awake and thankfully the first to jump into the shower (I can’t even think about what would have happened if my kids had encountered the snake),” he said, thankful to have escaped the ordeal unscathed.

“When I got into the shower there was no snake and the drain cover was as it should be. But halfway through my shower… I felt something around my feet, so looked down and to my absolute horror I saw the snake coiled around my feet in the shower with me! I had no idea what kind it was, focusing solely on getting myself to a safe space. It is all a bit of a blur as to how I managed to escape, but I essentially dived through the glass shower door and landed horizontally on my elbow on the bathroom floor, still covered in soap and dripping wet,” Bowen recalled.
Certainly not something you want to see when taking a shower.


Photo: Lawrence Bowen.

Out of the shower, he managed to close the glass shower door to contain the snake, shouting for help (and a camera). “With all the commotion it had partially retreated into the drain and its head was just sticking out. Thank goodness the shower had a glass door and not a shower curtain!”

His wife joined him and they took some photos and a video, while assessing what to do next. “As the snake seemed happy to remain in the drain, we needed help to remove it.”

“I got dressed and drove to the camp’s gate looking for somebody who could help. But at this time in the morning nobody was about. I tried the petrol station and the shop but to no avail. I then tried reception which was closed, but they had an emergency number on the door that I called. Thankfully someone answered and the said they would get someone to come help,” he said. Shortly thereafter (05:45) Bowen received a text message saying, “John is on his way to catch or remove the snake”. “Five minutes later, John (who we later worked out was a guide at Letaba) arrived in his bakkie to help us.”

“I think he gets these kinds of calls quite often, so he was very relaxed. He said these calls don’t usually turn out to be a snake… usually it’s just a lizard. We walked into the bathroom with John and the snake was no longer in the shower. This was very disturbing as we did not know where it had gone,” he said. Bowen added that they rushed around the bungalow, putting plugs in the bathroom and kitchen drains, and closing the toilet.

“John suggested turning on the hot water in the bath, basin and shower to flush the snake out… assuming it was still in the pipes. We stood at the back of the bungalow where all the drainage pipes exit it and waited a bit. It did not take long for the snake to appear, but it shot out the pipe and went up another one and John was unable to grab it.

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“Not long after this the snake appeared out of the pipe again and John was able to grab it. He had a long snake grabber. He said it was ‘rather placid by cobra standards’ as it had not lunged at him. But it did not take long before the snake spat venom at him (he was wearing sunglasses to protect his eyes).

“It took a while to get the snake into a cooler box, which he had on the back of his bakkie. It tried to escape a couple of times before John was able to close the lid. We were all so very grateful once the snake had been secured – and I felt justified to celebrate my lucky escape and its capture. John jumped into his bakkie with the cooler box on the passenger seat and drove off. He was going to release the snake into the bush away from the camp.”

Bowen said they were all really rattled by the whole incident, and had to regroup on their stoep with a cup of coffee and a rusk. “It worked out well that we were moving camps that day. I would not have been able to spend another night in that bungalow.”
He was thankful that their kids had slept through the whole ordeal. “We only told them about the snake once we had left the KNP five days later. There is no way they would have ever gone into a bathroom while we were in the park if they had known.”

Though one can now look back at the incident with gratitude, Bowen said he is rather disappointed in the park. “The drain cover should not have been that way and the incident, which could have had a much worse outcome, could have been avoided.”

“Though we love the Kruger and will return, we might consider staying outside the park in better accommodation or in one of the private camps.”

His last thought, for anyone going to the KNP… “Make sure you keep all the doors and windows closed and please check the drain covers to make sure they are securely fitted!”

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