Fyzal “Johnny” Mohammed ushered in 2018 lying in a hospital bed, but thankful that he survived what could have been a deadly encounter with a venomous mapepire balsain.
Mohammed, 37, of San Pedro, Rio Claro, was bitten by the snake, also known as a bushmaster or fer de lance after he accidentally stepped on it in bushes near his home on Thursday.
He said he got a parakeet as a gift from his brother and had gone to cut a branch off a tree to put in the birdcage when the incident happened. He was bitten just above the right ankle.
Mohammed is at the Sangre Grande District Hospital where he is being closely monitored after being administered anti-venom. He said he is in extreme pain.
“As I mash the snake it turned around and bite me . . . as it bite, it let go, but I ran so fast. I knew it was a snake that had bitten me. I was real frightened when I see the blood,” he said, as he recounted his ordeal from his hospital bed.
Mohammed’s brother, Sharaz, a hunter, said when he realised his brother had been bitten he went immediately to look for the snake.
“The snake was in the same spot. It did not move because it had probably just eaten a rat and was lying there. We had to kill it to carry it with us to the hospital with my brother so the doctors could see what type of snake it is in order to give him the correct anti-venom. They confirmed it to be a mapepire,” he said.
“If that mapepire had strike from the front the poison would have travelled much faster in his bloodstream but because it was a bite he was poisoned but at a slower rate, thank God.”
Mohammed said: “This was a near deadly experience for me and I don’t want anyone to experience this because they may not be lucky like I am. People be careful out there, especially in bushy areas.”
PREVENTION OF SNAKE BITES
• Get to know the local venomous snakes, the places they like to hide and what time of day and year they are more likely seen.
• Snakes are often hesitant to tackle larger animals like humans, therefore, if a snake is spotted, allow it to slither away rather than having it meet a violent death with the cutting edge of a machete blade, as is customary in Trinidad.
• If you encounter a snake that is presumed to be dead, be careful. A scratch by the fangs of the snake may be enough to allow venom to be injected into the body.
• As much as possible, keep the snake’s food source out of your home. This includes creatures such as mice, rats and poultry . Snakes will come around if food is in abundance.
• Avoid having too much debris around your home.
• Be wary of snakes being washed down by rains and in flood waters. Certain snakes are excellent swimmers and with murky flood waters, it will be difficult to spot them.
MORE ON THE MAPEPIRE
The mapepire balsain, scientific name Bothrops atrox is mostly found in forested areas in Trinidad. Its prey includes small rodents, frogs and birds. It can grow up to two meters in length and is quite easily agitated.
The snake’s venom consists of enzymes and heamatoxins, which are meant to assist in the digestion of their prey. If a human is bitten it will cause swelling and necrosis (rotting) of the affected area. If bitten, seek medical attention immediately.