Rinkhals in Africa

Aubrey said:
I strongly believe not too kill unless a threat or food so despite the risk, I think I did the right thing. Despite Les and all his fears about snakes in Africa, I feel he excagerated the threat for some unknown reason.
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I don't think Les had an agenda regarding the snakes. More than likely, it was an exaggerated fear due to the fact we have only one poisonous snake left in Ontario, Canada (where Les is from) and it is a very timid, relatively small critter with limited distribution - nothing compared to the likes of what you have. Just my opinion, of course.

Doc
 
Doc, that may be spot on. Living in Africa, we accept the situation as normal when I can fully understand the fears of non-locals. Thanx for pointing that out.

On the black mamba and getting screwed ;-) They intent to strike and inject poison ...... never heard of one screwing first but hey, this is Africa after all !!
 
Aubrey-
What a beautiful tasty looking critters you have in your background...Where about South Africa do you call home? I was lucky enough to take a couple trips to Durbin and Capetown back in the 90's, and I still try to keep up with things of there. Also do you happen to know how to tell whether that beastie was male or female? Thanks.
 
I am based in Johannesburg. Not the greatest destination ...very much like an African version of NY ...all the trouble and the crime ...no soft pretsels though ;-(

I stayed clear of the snake so as not stress it too much. I think it was a female as they have a slightly blunter tail but I am not 100% sure. Not like he/she was very cooperative.

Home is here http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/moorea/
 
I'm trying to imagine me transplanting a Rattler or a Cottonmouth here in South Carolina... Nope. The only thing that's going to get transplanted is his head and the rest of him will be drying on the skinning board. Transplanting non-endangered species rarely helps that animal or the animals in the area where it is released. It creates an imbalance and things go bad across the board. If it is somewhere it doesn't belong it needs to be, let's say, harvested. Cool pic though.
 
Love the Defender Ruby. That is my dream vehicle!!!
 
Landies are used to access Africa. No racing ...used to race quads but after managing a three month stint with 5 concussions, wife decided I should take up a less dangerous sport ...... so we got married.

I understand your point Mhawg but Africa is stripped bare by local population so I don't want to add to that. Once we remove natural predators, the rodents and pests take over ...then we poison them and this affects the ground water, remaining predators and ends up hurting us. I have seen a rattle snake twice in the wild ..... once Colorado and once Az. Must admit they were mean tempered but a little slow....super fast striking and scary.

Upside is I grew up here so my fears are based on realistic data and experiences. Show me a rattler or a cottonmouth and I'll show you what high speed getaway means. Must admit, Oz snakes seems even worse tempered than any others I have seen.
 
Aubrey said:
I understand your point Mhawg but Africa is stripped bare by local population so I don't want to add to that. Once we remove natural predators, the rodents and pests take over ...then we poison them and this affects the ground water, remaining predators and ends up hurting us.
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I have some very fond memories of shooting a shotgun at mongooses (mongeese?) out of a fast moving bakkie. Those little bastards were everywhere after the rancher took most of the lynxes and jackals off the land.
 
All I gotta say to that snake:

"Say hello to my little friend!!"

tractor.jpg
 
Aub, I didn't know how I missed this thread. Fantastic and good on you for keeping it alive and transporting it away. I've heard Rinkhals can spit from the "dead" position!

mhawg said:
Transplanting non-endangered species rarely helps that animal or the animals in the area where it is released. It creates an imbalance and things go bad across the board. If it is somewhere it doesn't belong it needs to be, let's say, harvested. Cool pic though.
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Now that isn't true at all. There hasn't been an eastern diamondback found in NC for a LONG time because of that mentality. If a few were relocated they might have had a chance. As a matter of fact, because everyone has blown them away, they can only be found on Lejune. They never got to the endangered status....

OK, I've said My peace, I don't want to open up the kill a snake don't kill a snake soap box.


But Aubrey, that was a great thing you did. Shoot me a PM so I can send you something for it :)
 
wow.. what a cool pic Aubrey...:eek: what a cool looking snake man.. i would not be to stoked to walk out and see one of those things in my yard......:o though i probably wouldn't have killed it either, great job relocating it..:thumbup:
 
Aubrey said:
Despite Les and all his fears about snakes in Africa......
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This Les would have ruined a perfectly good pair of Hanes!:eek:

I ain't afraid of dying, but it will not be because of a snake. I'd have to walk around with a Remington 870 if I lived there!

Great picture!
 
Joezilla said:

OK, I've said My peace, I don't want to open up the kill a snake don't kill a snake soap box.
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Great picture Aubrey! When I was in high school (eastern WA), I couldn't go for a hike with out running into several rattlers. I often hunted them and would collect several over the weekend. The school secretary cured the skins and made belts and hat bands plus jewelry from the rattlers. I must have killed close to a 100 of them, but looking back now, I was most likely increasing the field mouse and rat populations (there's a lot of agricultural jobs and I did plenty of hay bailing and driving a wheat combine).

Today, I typically keep my distance. I've never had a rattler "attack" me...they were only hostile when I was actively trying to catch them. The only snake I've run across that was quite aggressive was a water moccasin I ran into while mountain biking down in Georgia...those snakes scare me!

Anyways, you did a good thing Aubrey. I've heard that most snakes that wander into built up areas get disoriented by all the metropolitan vibrations. Of course, poor sanitation will attract them to the rodent populations as well...hence the need to keep the snakes around for natures balance.

I love reptiles by nature and really enjoy them in the outdoors.

ROCK6
 
Aubrey said:
Landies are used to access Africa. No racing ...used to race quads but after managing a three month stint with 5 concussions, wife decided I should take up a less dangerous sport ...... so we got married.
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In the US, it's the other way around.:)
 
Aubrey said:
I noted a movement in the garden and this was the visitor.....

rinkhals.jpg


An African Rinkhals, about 3.4 ft long. (Maxes out at about 6 ft) Despite being able to spread a hood and lift half off it's body off the ground, it's not a Cobra.
I was wearing glasses as their neuro toxic venom is spat at the eyes of any threat. This one tagged my Oakleys about 7 times. When escape wasn't an option ... he feigned death.

My two sons and I managed to get him into a bucket and drove him about 1 mile into a bush area and released him. This image was taken during the release. He no longer struck or spat as I am sure he was out of venom but still had attitude.

I strongly believe not too kill unless a threat or food so despite the risk, I think I did the right thing. Despite Les and all his fears about snakes in Africa, I feel he excagerated the threat for some unknown reason.

2 snakes to fear in Africa...... Pufadder as the b@stard is to lazy to move out of the way and normally strikes between ankle and knee .... with a absolute massive dose of the most evil toxin available ......... long pants and boots takes care of that. Black Mamba ....... only snake I have known to not back off but attack even when I am backing away. A stout walking staff takes care of that. Cobra's are fun but normally if you back off, they leave.

Knife content ....knife on belt was a Mad Dog Wild Thing :D
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Great Pic of a Rinkhals, I live in Harties on a plot and we have Mozambican and Puffies galore, and the odd bushveld cobra and very rarely Boomslangs. We are supposed to have Rinkhals in the area but I've never seen one in the bundus.

Because you spared the Rinkhals I'll forgive that you were wearing a Wild Dog knife. :D, get something that doesn't break when you look at it.

Attached a pic of small mozambican I released a while ago
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and goodbye
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an my little helpers
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And here the snake is about to exit left ;-)

rinkhals012.jpg


Bodhi, it's Mad Dog ;-)

I have used MD's since 1994 and for hard use, I cannot complain. I have many other customs and production knives. I think it boils down to this ...... some are happy with a Jeep and others want a Porsche Cayenne, some want a Hummer H1. One is not better than the other ...they are different, not better.

But aside, how many Mad Dog knives do you own and have you used?
 
Great pics! Always love to see snake pics. If those mad dog knives are the ones that sell for $1600,sell it and buy a shotgun. Or at least a sturdy snake catching stick. :)
 
Aubrey said:
But aside, how many Mad Dog knives do you own and have you used?
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None at all, more a fan of Rats and Dogs, never bought a Mad Dog because the attitude in his forum was very aggressive and not at all about knives, but thats a different story.

Locally I've bougth MT Knives which are more tactical and of course Frenchie's blades out on the way to Brits.

Where did you take the pics anyways.
 
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