Keep us posted if you ever do educational programs or talks, word-of-mouth is undeniable.

I frantically started searching the internet for comparative pictures of both Cape cobra and rinkhals juveniles.

Ps. In 2010 I initiated a research project to find out if the rinkhals, Hemachatus haemachatus, could still be found in the greater Cape town area.

[A word on Ophidiophobia:  I think perhaps it is innate in all of us, a healthy fear of snakes keeps a healthy distance. Have they been overlooked?

This is amazing news, hahaa, I can only imagine what your reaction must have been. Hey Zayaan – nice blog by the way, and thanks for commenting on Cape Point Chronicle (thats how I found you, hope it leads to more traffic for you.). I used the opportunity to question the man about the snakes in the area and when I showed him the project flyer he emphatically told me that in his 15 years on the plot he had never seen a snake like the one in the picture, in fact he didn’t even know that there was such a snake in the Western Cape. If you (or your dog) get spit in the eyes, irrigate as soon as you can with whatever liquid you have on hand: water, energy drink, milk, booze, even urine. There is no danger in photographing a snake as long as you give it the respect and space that it needs and deserves. No major developments but have a look at my site.

In South Africa, Rinkhals are found in grasslands from Southern Gauteng reaching up into Mpumalanga to about Lydenberg and then south into the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, the grasslands of the Transkei, and then they move into fynbos in the Western Cape with a population up near Sutherland in the karoo. But then, the doubt arose once again. Our time will come Buddy, our time will come. However, if people aren’t aware of what a rinkhals looks like identifications of rinkhals could also go missing when people assume that it is something else, especially a Cape cobra due to its general similarity when it spreads a hood. He is a popular public speaker and offers a variety of courses including. During hibernation the Bull Frogs cover themselves in a mucous coating with dries and forms a protective cocoon. In addition those in the past that have encountered a rinkhals may have misidentified it or passed it off as something else, some of them may have run in fear.

Thought to be extinct in the Cape Peninsula, Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) have recently been spotted in Gordon’s Bay, Hermanus, Somerset West, up along the West Coast to Mamre and Table Mountain National Park. We have received records from various areas in the peninsula which indicate snakes feigning death, snakes spraying venom and as one gentleman described – who had captured a snake to move it away from his property – a dark snake which spread a hood displaying two white bands on its throat region which sprayed venom onto his glasses.

A juvenile Rinkhals snake was saved from an electricity box at Highway Junction in Harrismith by Ladysmith’s very own Fanie Cilliers.

Over the last month we have seen numerous arguments on social media about identifying juvenile Rinkhals, and many people seem to be confused on the matter. Either way, keep your distance, they spit to about 2.5m.

Rinkhals are generalist hunters but are especially fond of toads, frequenting vleis in grassland areas as well as other water bodies like dams and fish ponds.

Positive feedback was soon forthcoming and in a matter of months the project received many records from which we were able to confirm their existence in the eastern part of the City of Cape Town while sightings from the Cape peninsula itself remained unconfirmed. I think I always saw it but I hoped that Johan or someone would come back and tell me otherwise.

There is not too much interaction that needs to happen between humans and snakes, a healthy respect and separation is the best way to manage things.]. I have started work in Cape Point a few months ago and myself and my colleagues are all aware, the word is spreading in the deep south as we should surely soon have a few encounters, especially with the weather slowly heating up (and as you say, suitable habitat and prey).

After much scrutiny we have determined that the snake is actually an unusual colour morph of a juvenile cape cobra. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Male Bull Frogs show parental care of the eggs and tadpoles.

I am sure as you are that the Rinkhals are around there but as you say, proof is belangrik. Please choose the proper subscription http://openweathermap.org/price, Juvenile Rinkhals saved from electricity box, Ladysmith KZN: Severe thunderstorms predicted, NASA picks Nokia to build moon mobile network, Ladysmith KZN: Man shot dead at his home in Roosboom, ESTCOURT: Sewage spill lingers on at golf club, NEWCASTLE: Pedestrian struck by vehicle at Allen/Drakensberg intersection, BMW X5 M and X6 M Competition ‘First Edition’ variants coming to SA, ESTCOURT: Child (6) succumbs to injuries after drive-by shooting on Rensburg road, DUNDEE: SAPS appeal for public’s help following murder and kidnapping, Toyota Prado gets new turbodiesel engine with more power, VIDEO: Sugar intake ‘may be linked to aggression and poor mental health’, Newcastle Advertiser Farm Safety Feature 2020, Ladysmith KZN: Town in the grip of a terrible heatwave, Husband and wife killed in Normandien farm attack, “I conned Ladysmith out of R400 million” says man claiming to be ‘Sgumza’, Newcastle Mayor condemns ‘senseless killing’ of Glen and Vida Rafferty, Turtles and Elephants at Rocktail Beach Camp, Attorney dies after being attacked near White River smallholding, UKZN engineer among African Space Industry’s Top 10 Under 30, 5 suspects arrested in connection with attacks along Magalies mountain range. Since its inception the project has received nationwide publicity and called for public assistance in locating this elusive species in the Cape.

Juvenile Rinkhals are seldom black like the adults and are usually a light grey or brown, and often with darker flecks. Adult bull frogs will eat younger versions of themselves. that.

But something about the location of this snake, it’s head and overall body shape was casting a shadow of doubt.

), and the best we can do is speculate. What is the next step, do you have gps co-ords and will you now go and seek out any hard evidence? About four years ago I was convinced that I saw a Rinkhals at the Cape Point Nature reserve, just casually crossing the main road. Naturalists of the past claim that this was once a common species in the Cape.

Human fatalities are not common but the venom will do definite damage. Grant, keep up the great work, perhaps one day I’ll call you with good news! The rinkhal is a venomous snake, and therefore it should win more often than not.

If the snake had stayed in the electricity box, it would have died due to having no food or water.

Kenilworth racecourse is another area where this species was known to occur, and is under formal conservation, but the last sighting from there was in 2002. Their fangs, when exposed, eject venom up and out from the centre as opposed to the tips (as in cobra’s), often marking their targets eyes. Thank you! During January we saw a large number of baby Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) sightings, especially in the Highveld. Rinkhals feed mostly on toads and frogs and thus are found mostly near dams, vlei’s and wetlands. The ones that I know that are not venomous I catch myself and go release them further out of town. Always good to see snakes in the wild, a fascinating species at the very cutting edge of evolutionary possibilities. ( Log Out / 

Copyright © 2020 Caxton & CTP Printers and Publishers Ltd. But this cannot be confirmed without proof. Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool. These babies are venomous and can spit their venom from the moment they are born. Russel!

Being aware is the most important thing, when you’re out on the veld, walking your dog on the mountains, keep an eye out.



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