By Staff Reporter
MAKHUBIDUNG-In black communities snakes are associated with bad luck and witchcraft therefore when you see a snake you don’t think twice but kill it immediately.
For Makhubidung-born Snake Catcher, Masilo Maenatja (40), catching, removing, and conserving snakes is a passion.
His love for snakes was sparked when he noticed that there was a snake in the house, instead of calling the community to assist him to kill it, he decided to catch it.
“One day when I was in the house, I heard a weird sound only to find that it was a cobra, I dared to get close to it, it raised the head and the neck. I took a stick and pointed it yerrrrr it was very angry thinking that I want to kill it”
“I took a bucket opened it and put it down for it to get inside. It finally got in and I closed the bucket took it to the Bush where it belongs”
Picture supplied: Masilo Maenetja urged locals to stop killing snakes
After that incident, Maenetja decided to go to school to learn more about snakes.
” I researched about the schools around, then I enrolled to Kinyonga Reptile in Hoedspruit. I got taught how to identify, handle, and treat then relocate them to a safe place”
“I am a professional qualified snake handler or catcher,” he said
“When you see a snake in your house or yard, please don’t kill it rather call a qualified snake handler to remove it for you” he pleaded
Contact him on 0724 285014
Email address: maitemolebogeng@gmail.com
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