Thousands die from Snake Bites each year in Africa

[Kofi]

Most Africans fear snakes more than even lions. I was born in the village and spent my early years living with my grandparents in the village. I used to go to the farm with my grandparents. I also used to play in the thick bushes with my friends. We even played hide and seek in those thick bushes full of snakes, scorpions, etc. There was not much room for fear in those days. Although I feared snakes, that did not prevent me from playing hide and seek with my friends in the thick bushes sometimes with no shoes on. I saw snakes coiled around the branches of trees but that did not stop me from climbing trees. That was long time ago.

However, once I moved to the city, this character changed into something very soft. Now I fear snake more than any other creature on earth and I can't imagine myself going to the bush with no shoes on.

Africa is home to several of the world's most deadliest snakes including the poisonous Black Mamba, the deadly Boomslang, Africa's most deadliest snake the Puff Adder, also Gaboon Viper, and the killer Egyptian Cobra. These killers and many more live under the bushes of Africa sometimes coiling around branches of trees waiting to strike. In the early mornings you often see them sunning themselves quietly in the dusty roads but if by mistake you step on any of these beasts, you are dead.

Every year thousands of Africans especially poor farmers in the villages and small towns are bitten to death in Africa. It is worse especially in the tropical West and Central Africa.

Although traditional medicine has helped saved several lives, traditional medicine is slow and it takes long time to work and because of that, several thousands of people continue to die each and every year in Africa. Some snake bites take less than an hour to kill an adult man. Meanwhile, most traditional medicines take about a day to work.

Luckily for those in developed countries, there are anti-snake bite drugs that help neutralize snake bites and save people's lives. Unfortunate for the poor farmers in Africa however, there are no anti-snake bite drugs and so people continue to die just like that from snake bites.

A farmer may be working in his farm unknowing there is a snake hanging on top of his head. The snake may fall on him and give him a deadly bite.

A farmer may be clearing his land unknowing that there is a puff adder under the dry leaves. He may accidentally step on this killer snake and that may be the end of him. That is how so many poor farmers die each and every year from snake bites in Africa.

The puff adder alone is responsible for about 75% of all deaths caused by snake bites in Africa why because the puff adder is a very deceptive and poisonous snake. It hides under the dry leaves and strikes with the speed of light sparing no creature at all. The majority of snakes in Africa are harmless and rarely bite. Even the poisonous black mamba rarely bites. The Egyptian cobra for example, will bite you only if you disturb it. The puff adder however has a very bad temper and unlike most other snakes in Africa, the puff adder is very reluctant to flee and very willing to bite.

there are snakes everywhere in Texas. I almost lost my life in Texas about 6 yrs ago when i got bitten in my left leg. worst pain ever

I had an albino snake pet which I had to let go because it grew so huge within just a couple of months. I have survived several snake bites though.

I've been bitten once by a poisonous snake in Australia but survived. some snakes are poisonous but I still love snakes. I wish to have one as a pet when I buy my own house in the near future.