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SEVEN DEADLY SNAKES TO LOOKOUT FOR THIS SEASON

By NOKUPHILA HAJI | 2025-01-22

THE Eswatini Reptile Centre has warned the nation to be on the lookout for seven deadly snakes as they slither out to find cooler shelter.

The snakes are the Puff Adder (Libululu), the Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Phemphetfwane), Boomslang (Indlondlo), Rinkhalas (Phemphetfwane), Vine Snake (Lununku), Black Mamba (Imamba) and the Snouted Cobra (Phemphetfwane).

In charge of operations at the Eswatini Reptile Centre, Mxolisi Nxumalo, said the snakes come out during summer in search of cooler places due to the heat.

Nxumalo explained that they spend winter in hibernation where they would be spotted around 9am and 10am before returning to their hiding places.

He said the snakes often come out at night and hunt for food like frogs, which they can only easily spot at night.

The snakes, according to Nxumalo, are not aggressive but attack when confronted or trapped into a corner.

He advised that windows should be closed as well as toilets especially in rural areas and at night.
“You should also avoid sitting around houses and leaning on walls because these snakes rely on walls to move around.

You must always carry a torch so that you easily spot snakes at night,” Nxumalo warned and strongly advised that pit latrines must be used only during the day.

This, he said, was because at night one may risk stepping on a snake and getting bitten.
He further advised on making fires and cooking to be done during the day because snakes hide in firewood which was at times kept in the kitchen.

“Snakes also enter the house through the drainage system. It is advisable for people to thoroughly check before using the toilet,” he said.

The snakes are found in different parts of the country but Black Mamba’s mostly are found in the Lowveld and in some parts of the Middleveld and Southern Hhohho, Pigg’s Peak.
Nxumalo said it was rare to find a Black Mamba in Mbabane, highlighting that if found, it may have been transported by vehicles from these areas.

discovered
The Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Puff Adder and Boomslang can be found across the country while the Snouted Cobra was found was found mostly in the Lowveld and in places that have hot weather conditions.

He said 64 different types of snakes have been discovered in the country, highlighting that seven of these snakes were very poisonous, while six were dangerous but could not kill a person.
Meanwhile Snake Rescuer Coordinator, Zakhele Hlophe from the Eswatini Antivenom Foundation, said they receive many calls from people seeking their assistance in areas situated in the Middleveld.

The areas include Fairview, Nhlambeni, Matsapha, Luve and Mliba. Hlophe said some of the calls were from Nhlangano. “The Lubombo region also records a large number of snake bites,” he said.

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