SANParks.org Forums

I know that Marius Burger has this annual Eco Challenge eventgoing.

The SARCA events are also very popular.

More info can be found here about how to participate.

I would love to attend the next event in August 2008.

RSG(Radio Sonder Grense) and 50-50 normally advertise these events in more detail.

Thanks WTM ! Very interesting. We learn something new every day.

Ok, firstly I need to thank all the forumites for their interest and posts on this topic.

We now need to decide whether we are going to have a BIG 5 for snakes only and / or another BIG 5 for the rest of the reptiles.

The other issue that needs to be finalized are the criteria for including animals under the BIG 5 snakes or BIG 5 Reptiles.

Once again, all forumites are more than welcome to give advice / inputs.

My criteria for the BIG 5 snakes will include: toxicity and size. In other words I suppose that the python will be one of the Big 5 snakes and the rest will consist of venomous ones.

For the BIG 5 Reptiles, I think that one needs to look at the general reptiles that are frequently found.

So, here are my finals:

Big 5 snakes: Black Mamba, Mozambique Spitting Cobra, Vine Snake, Puff Adder and Python

Big 5 Reptiles: Crocodile, Leopard tortoise, Chameleon, Yellow throated Plated lizard, Rock monitor.

Looking forward to all your responses.

Mfezi

I vote "yes" to both lists..

I have also seen all the snakes/reptiles on both lists.

Thanks for your reply, Meandering Mouse.

A question!

Even though you have a separate big 5 for the snakes, should there not still be a snake in the big 5 reptiles?

If so, I might go for African Python.

My personal opinion Imberbe, no I do not think so, but this is open for discussion. If there are enough other forumites who also feel like adding a snake to the Big 5 Reptiles, then it will need to be done!! Maybe it can then be called the BIG 5 snakes, and the BIG 6 reptiles??

What do you think??

Mfezi, I have just looked at your list again and I'm curious about your exclusion of the Boomslang.

The reason why I asked is simple. If you create a big 5 reptile list, it will be used separately from the big 5 snake list. It will have a live of its own.

Snakes are reptiles!

It would really be strange to have a big 5 reptile list without some of the most deadly (black mamba) and biggest (python) reptiles represented!

Just asking.

If there is going to be a snake list, I would add the Boomslang and make it the "slithery six scarey snakes".

Watched a great program on Animal Planet last night….one crazy guy (he is really nuts!! ) rated the 7 most deadliest snakes (strikes) in Africa….he rated them on speed, how toxic their venom is and how fast they strike….his rating was as follow:

1. Black Mamba….one of the fastest snakes in the world, and of cause, that deadly venom.
2. Gaboon Adder ….the snake with the longest fangs in the world (if I remember correctly? ) as well as one of the fastest strikers
3. Boomslang ….per drop the most potent venom in the world
4. Snouted Cobra (previously known as Egyptian Cobra)
5. Puff Adder….responsible for the most serious snake bites in Africa
6. Rinkhals
7. Peringuey’s Adder….know for sidewinding on dunes…have to be honest, cannot see why this one was at all considered….is venom is not of real danger to man



I agree with Imberbe….one will have to at least include the Black Mamba…..this is for sure the “king” of African snakes …IMHO

My personal Big 5 snakes will be:
Black Mamba, Cape Cobra, Vine Snake, Gaboon Adder and African Rock Python.

BasDutch that photo of the snake on the road looks like a mole snake, they get pretty big.

Don't know about top 5, but this is definitely the tops in Western Cape, and Oudtshoorn is Cobra City.
Cape Cobra Naja nivea