Interesting development in snake anti venom research

[spike.t]

'Unparalleled' snake antivenom made from man bitten 200 times

Scientists hope to make a universal antivenom from the extraordinary blood of a man exposed to snake venom for decades.

www.bbc.com

 

[Betterinthebush]

When I heard about this I thought is was the most courageous entrepreneurial effort ever conceived.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Bill Haast had been bitten 172 by various venomous snakes.

Bill Haast - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I've seen 4 mambas on hunting trips to Africa. 2 were dead in the road, 2 were crossing the road and I've seen 2 puff aders in Zambia. When you see a living black mamba in the wild you just think "death"

 

[samson7x]

I've seen 4 mambas on hunting trips to Africa. 2 were dead in the road, 2 were crossing the road and I've seen 2 puff aders in Zambia. When you see a living black mamba in the wild you just think "death"

Indeed. I saw a total of 3 this past safari, 2 were in the road and the last slithered out from under us on a buffalo track. Definitely gets your attention. Also saw 1 puff adder. PH said they don’t keep antivenom on hand due to cost and short shelf life.

 

[towserthemouser]

My PH on my first safari told me: "If you get hit by a puff adder, we can have you at the best hospital in southern Africa in about 6-8 hours. You'll have a really bad day and a tough recovery, but you'll make it. If you get hit by a cobra it's touch and go but you have a chance. If you get hit by a mamba, I cannot help you."

Makes you think.....

We saw a dead puff adder, a dead cobra, and a mamba that had just been killed right before we pulled up to the village. The Africans were celebrating like they had just won the Super Bowl. Nothing seems to make them much happier than a dead mamba.

 

[roklok]

What time of year are you seeing the Mambas ? On my hunt last year a mamba was killed in camp a few days prior to my arrival in October, and an adder was killed in camp while I was there. I have heard the snakes aren't active in the July-August timeframe in the Zambezi region.

 

[Rafiki]

That guy has brass balls!

 

[samson7x]

My PH on my first safari told me: "If you get hit by a puff adder, we can have you at the best hospital in southern Africa in about 6-8 hours. You'll have a really bad day and a tough recovery, but you'll make it. If you get hit by a cobra it's touch and go but you have a chance. If you get hit by a mamba, I cannot help you."

Makes you think.....

We saw a dead puff adder, a dead cobra, and a mamba that had just been killed right before we pulled up to the village. The Africans were celebrating like they had just won the Super Bowl. Nothing seems to make them much happier than a dead mamba.

Yeah, they told me “we’ll try to call your wife to say your goodbyes.” There’s no way to get to antivenom quick enough.

I was like “what the hell am I even doing here.”

What time of year are you seeing the Mambas ? On my hunt last year a mamba was killed in camp a few days prior to my arrival in October, and an adder was killed in camp while I was there. I have heard the snakes aren't active in the July-August timeframe in the Zambezi region.

I was in SA close to Botswana border in March. They told me the mambas were more active due to the unseasonable amount of rain they had prior to my arrival.

 

[roklok]

Yeah, they told me “we’ll try to call your wife to say your goodbyes.” There’s no way to get to antivenom quick enough.

I was like “what the hell am I even doing here.”



I was in SA close to Botswana border in March. They told me the mambas were more active due to the unseasonable amount of rain they had prior to my arrival.

Yep, similar experience. Jet lagged out of my gourd, arrived in camp the first afternoon after three days of traveling, and was told that a mamba head been killed right outside my hut prior to my arrival. Felt like going right back to the airport and heading home. Not fond of snakes at all. I know there are a lot of things that will kill you in Africa, but at least I feel like I have a fighting chance against most other critters. Snakes hidden in brush, grass, and trees not so much. I think I will take future trips in a less snakey time of year, if there is such a thing.

 

[Rafiki]

Mambas are interesting. Met my first while looking for tracks. It was standing next to a tree straight as a broomstick; unsupported 6' feet high. I know that cuz we were eye to eye. One of the most fascinating things I've ever seen.

We stood like that for a minute or so 'til it flopped over to the tree and shinnied up. That's when you realize you hunting under those damned trees.

Saw my second a few days later but that one was just in the track and slithered off.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Mambas are interesting. Met my first while looking for tracks. It was standing next to a tree straight as a broomstick; unsupported 6' feet high. I know that cuz we were eye to eye. One of the most fascinating things I've ever seen.

Ok, I hate snakes. And..I’m pretty sure that they hate me. But, this story here is pretty freaking cool.

 

[MarkB]

Have had a few encounters while on safari, none that I call close or real dangerous. Did shoot the zebra cobra in our camp cave in Namibia at the PH's directions. An 11'+ mamba skin from SA hangs in my memory room. It was so fresh shed that the trackers wanted nothing to do with its collection. Left to me to gather.

For a real snake experience go to the reptile cave at Malaysia's Batu Caves. 1000's of deadly snakes kept in pits and some in aquariums, many of the local workers speak of getting bitten. An outstanding place for those fond of snakes, if you have a phobia do not go in. Its a long narrow, dark warm cave entrance then opens into a larger room surrounding you with snake pits. Truly an exciting place.

Any advancement in protecting those that inhabit snake infected areas is a good thing.

MB

 

[Green Chile]

Mambas are interesting. Met my first while looking for tracks. It was standing next to a tree straight as a broomstick; unsupported 6' feet high. I know that cuz we were eye to eye. One of the most fascinating things I've ever seen.

You should have bought a lottery ticket after that.

One of our operators here told me about running over a mamba in the bakkie and it stood up and hit his side glass…that was partially rolled up! His tire was on top of it or it could have gotten him. Lucky day.

We saw a black mamba last year just after crawling out of the bushes looking for red duiker. The PH said we aren’t going back in there. I agreed!

If you’ve ever seen video of mambas mating, it will make your skin crawl. Death reproducing…

 

[lionofluangwa]

I hope they find an anti-venom that can be mass produced and kept in high risky snakey areas!

We had a mamba last season wrap itself around our LC bumper as we had been out on a stalk and in the process of trying to kill it, stabbed the radiator with a sharp stick, which prompted us to then have to forget about the mamba still wrapped around the bumper and instead get the cruiser back to camp so we wouldn't be stuck in the bush all night. It stayed on the bumper the whole ride and we were able to get better lighting and more weapons back in camp and finished it off. It was 3 meters long. we had stepped over a puff adder earlier that day on the stalk. This was early October in Zambia.

Always good to stay behind your tracker and PH when out for a walk from the truck. and of course pay attention when you walk into outdoor bathrooms.

 

[BryceM]

I've seen three or four puff adders and a similar number of cobras. No mambas...... yet.

One of the cobras was raised up hissing, hood flared up...... about 18" from my leg. We were trotting through the grass, on our way to cut off some kudu that were on the move. My brainstem and spinal cord had me three feet in the air while my head was still looking, trying to figure out what it was.

 

[towserthemouser]

I've seen three or four puff adders and a similar number of cobras. No mambas...... yet.

One of the cobras was raised up hissing, hood flared up...... about 18" from my leg. We were trotting through the grass, on our way to cut off some kudu that were on the move. My brainstem and spinal cord had me three feet in the air while my head was still looking, trying to figure out what it was.

It's a pretty safe bet the mambas have seen you, even if you didn't see them...... I'm convinced we don't see half the critters that see us.

Saw a fun video the other day with a bunch of hikers all day long obliviously hiking past a rocky cliff with a big old tom cougar just casually watching them and they had no idea.

 

[ActionBob]

I've seen 4 mambas on hunting trips to Africa. 2 were dead in the road, 2 were crossing the road and I've seen 2 puff aders in Zambia. When you see a living black mamba in the wild you just think "death"

This thing was hanging out of a hole in a tree a couple feet from my face as we drove past. We stopped ahead and I shot it a few inches behind the head. I requested the tree be chopped down but in typical African fashion, the PH said they'd do it later. Want to bet it's still standing and it has another snake living in it?

 

[Nyati]

If you hunt in the winter, there is much less snake activity.

I have seen Mambas and Cobras, including a beautiful Capa Cobra, but no close encounters !

 

[Hunt anything]

I’ve heard about people drinking venom but never injecting it.
Back in college I made extra money supplying a vet school with poisonous snakes mostly copperheads, timber rattlesnakes. We did supply cottonmouths for research don’t know if they ever came up with a good anti venom for them or not. They injected the venom into horses and collected their antibodies. This guy is just a human horse.