THE NATION (Nairobi, Kenya) 05 March 06 Due to Myths, the Snake is a Hated Reptile (Joseph Ngunjiri
Nairobi)
Responding to media questions over the attack on the Standard offices, Internal Security minister John Michuki invoked the imagery of a snake - he equated the Government to a snake which bites when rattled.
Of all the animals the snake is probably the least liked by humans. This probably has something to do with myths. Among Christians and Muslims, the serpent is the epitome of evil. The Bible and the Koran say Adam's wife Eve was tempted by Satan in the form of a snake.
Most myths are hinged on the snake's unpredictable and wily nature. The animal is also the most misunderstood. Like any other wild beasts, the snake will most definitely attack when "rattled."
The generally accepted definition of a snake is an animal with a long, legless body covered by dry scales, and there are about 2,700 species, most of them in the tropics.
The largest are the anaconda of South America and the reticulate python of Asia. Both may grow up to 9 metres long. One of the smallest snakes is the Braminy blind snake, which also lives in the tropics and grows to only 15 centimetres.
In defence against aggression, the snake employs different mechanisms. The one most widely known is the bite which, depending on the type of snake, may be fatal. Mr Michuki specifically referred to the "bite." According to the World Book Encyclopaedia, snakes that bite inject venom through their fangs. "About 270 kinds of snake have venom that is harmful or fatal to human-beings. About 25 kinds cause most of deaths from snake bites," it says.
Among the poisonous ones found in Kenya is the Mount Kenya bush viper, which has movable fangs and whose venom can lead to blood clotting in humans.
Mr Sam Shakai, a tour guide at the National Museums in Nairobi, says that once bitten by a poisonous snake, death comes after three hours in the absence of treatment.
Another interesting range is the hooded snakes (this evokes images of the hooded gang in the Standard attack).
The forest cobra has been known to swim and feed on fish. It is an alert animal and the largest cobra in Africa - it can grow to 2.5 metres, according to information at the museum.
There is also the royal snake, which is also referred to as the royal or ball python.
"The snake is known either as the royal python for its handsome markings, or as the ball python as it tends to curl up into a tight ball when alarmed," says the museum.
The Kenya sand boa is one of the most beautiful types, and a popular pet. Its orange and brown colour helps it to blend in with arid soils, where it lies just under the surface waiting for prey.
It is poisonous and, although it has sharp fangs, it has a reputation for being docile.
The puff-adder causes most of snake bite deaths in Africa because of its wide distribution. It is prone to biting since it cannot escape quickly.
More than any other, the puff-adder fits the bill of Michuki's comparison perfectly.
But Africa's most feared snake is the black mamba, which is reputed to be the largest and most venomous. At 11 kilometres per hour, it is also believed to be one of the world's fastest.
Certain characteristics
There are certain characteristics unique to snakes. Maybe it is these Mr Michuki compared with the government he serves. For instance, when threatened, some hiss loudly by expelling air from the lung.
The rattlesnake makes a distinctive whirling sound by vibrating its tail rattle.
Perhaps, arising from Mr Michuki's utterance, the rattlesnake is the most talked-about snake at the moment. It is reputed for agility in striking, and is found mostly in the US. When the minister likens the Government to the snake, the comparison should also be extended to some of the unsavoury aspects of both the Government and the reptile. When it comes to tracking down real or imagined enemies, the Government rarely misses its target. The Encyclopaedia says that snakes have special heat-sensitive pit organs, which enable them to detect the exact location of another animal by the body heat it gives off. Thus, a snake can accurately direct its strike at warm-blooded prey in the dark."
Snake is a Hated Reptile