A SNAKE PARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 168, 17 July 1926, Page 23

A SNAKE PARK.

POPULAR RESORT OF PORT ELIZABETH. ATTRACTION IN FASHIONABLE SUBURB. (By FREDERICK STUBBS, F.R.G.S.) One of my most interesting experiences in South Africa was a visit to the Snake Park at Port Elizabeth. This was constructed by the director, Mr. Fitzsimons, in the grounds of the museum. Here some hundreds of living snakes are kept for observation and experiment. An enclosure consisting of a low wall has been built, on the inner side of which is a moat. This keeps the snakes out of the reach of the public, and also serves as a swimming bath for the reptiles, and an aquarium in which fish, frogs, crabs, lizards, tortoises, etc., live and breed. In the centre of the park is a pond covered with blue lotus and other aquatic plants, while huts are provided to shelter the snakes at night and in bad weather. Around the centre pond shrubs have been planted, which both add to the appearance of the park and also serve the snakes to climb about on or roost in. The park is situated in a residential district surrounded by beautiful homos, and when it 'was proposed to construct a snake park in connection with the museum there was great opposition in the neighbourhood, and a petition was signed against the proposal it being feared that some of the snakes would escape In spite of this opposition, however, the park, thanks to Mr. Fitzsimons faith and determination, was constructed and populated, and that his confidence was not misplaced has been shpwn by the fact that not a single reptile has been known to- escape. The townspeople today, of opposing, are very proud of their snakes. The snakes are of various South African species; two-thirds of them are.

venomous, and, with few exceptions, the poison apparatus is not interfered with in any way —the snakes remaining as venomous as when in the wild condition. The only exceptions are the ringhals cobra and the black-necked cobra. These two species have the peculiar and unpleasant habit of projecting their venom in a fine spray to a distance of six or eight feet. They always aim at the eyes of their foes, and, unless these are promptly treated, the sight is lost. It was therefore found necessary to destroy this dangerous mechanism before placing the reptiles in an open enclosure largely attended by the public. •

The cobras are actually cannibals, which no self-respecting snakes should be, and devour snakes (the cowards) which have the misfortune to be smaller and weaker than themselves. One of their victims is the puff adder (he is such a fierce brute that 1 confess I fiud it hard to pity him). He will light long and vigorously before succumbing. I remember how in Ceylon on one occasion a quarrelsome puff adder challenged even a peaceful wayfarer like myself in mortaT combat. The cobra, having seized its victim, holds grimly on, and continues to inject venom until it is completely paralysed. But snakes do not usually attack motionless objects. In the ease of frogs, for example, if they have the sense to keep quiet a snake will invariably pass them, but if they make a noise or movement froggy's life speedily comes to an end, and the same applies to rodents. Swift Death. Not, happily, of humans, but of the little animals that furnish the snake's breakfast. If a rat, say, makes the slightest movement, it is seen by the snake and'a swift stroke terminates its earthly troubles. The venom paralyses'and kills warm blooded prey in a surprisingly short time. After being bitten, the rat just staggers around for a-few moments and then dies painlessly. This is due to the fact that the nerve poison in the venom produces an almost instantaneously fatal effect. In larger victims, including man, the venom is not of sufficient quantity to induce immediate death. Non-venomous snakes kill their prey by constriction, squeezing it so hard that it dies in a few minutes.

Mr. Fitzsimons, to whom I am indebted for most of the information contained in this article, stresses the fact that non-venom ms snakes are extremely valuable allies in keeping down such destructive rodents as Tats and mice, since their food consists chiefly of these pests. snake is able-to penetrate into their

hiding places and there destroy them and their young, therefore, Mr. Fitzeimons, urges, it is foolish to destroy the harmless species of snakes, which are evidently provided by Providence in order to keep these pests in check. Farmers especially should learn to distinguish between friends and foes. I myself have on several occasions stayed in houses where a snake has been kept in ord'.-r to keep down rats and mice. A house--na..e is said in tH? respect to be more valuable than a cat.

The snake parK possesses a valuable asset in Johannes, the attendant, a burly native who seems entirely devoid of fear and handles the snakes with the utnio-t sangfroid. It does one good to look at his broad, cheerful countenance as he pubs the snakes through their paces. .Even Johannes is sometimes caught, however, and on more than one occasion, would probably have lost his life had it not been for the anti-venom-ous serum discovered by Mr. Fitzsimons. This serum is largely used in South Africa and it is claimed that it has so far never failed. A Foolhardy Australian. Australian readers will remember Morrissey, a snake man who used to give exhibitions. Mr. Fitzsimons told mc that Morrissey came to South Africa exhibiting snakes and offering his antidote for sale. The efficiency of his antidote being challenged, Morrissey, who evidently believed in it himself, offered to be bitten by any species of snake and to escape being poisoned. My informant told mc that he wrote to Morrissey warning him that African snakes were different from Australian, that many were extremely deadly, etc. The Australian snake-man, however, persisted in giving a demonstration, was bitten by a Momba, and died. South Africa seems to possess—l will not say : a larger number of snakes—for that miglit hurt the patriotic feelings of Australian readers; but at all events a larger number of highly venomous snakes. The python, though a big fellow, is said to be—like many other bi<» fellows—quite good tempered, and will not attack man unless he is himself attacked, which it seems to mc is as much as could fairly be asked of him. I have said enough, however, to show how exceedingly interesting and important the Snake Park is. There is only one other, I am informed, in the world, somewhere in Brazil. I wonder if such an institution : would not prove of interest and value in Australia, where snakes abound and cause loss of life each year.