Bach Ma mountain, Vietnam 09/05/2015
Backpackers unwittingly risked their lives to rescue two rare snakes in Bach Ma national park last Sunday.
The snakes were first spotted trapped within an open sewerage tank by New Zealander Andrew "roll the dice" Hutchinson; he quickly alerted fellow travellers with cries of "Holy shit! Holy shit! Guys, check this out!!"
Others were slow to respond due to Hutchinson's similar outbursts involving odd insects or merely "interesting" plantlife.
Upon inspection, however, the three other travelers were genuinely surprised with the find.
Alongside the bloated and rotting corpses of toads and frogs, two bright green, very much living, snakes could be observed.
With no thought of self-preservation it was decided that the stranded creatures must be rescued.
A man of the NZ bush, Hutchinson immediately took it upon himself to acquire a "good stick" and prepare himself for the main rescue task.
Realising the to need to document proceedings, Stuart "steadicam" Torrie, climbed some rather dodgy looking war era ruins, readied his camera and called for hush.
Skinny Essex boy climbs tower
The second attempt was far more effective, the snake coiling on to the offered branch and lifted free of its concrete prison.
Hutchinson was ecstatic and deemed a pause in proceedings for photos as totally viable [with hindsight he may well have reconsidered this action]
Snake selfie - eat your heart out Steve Irwin
In short order the first snake was deposited safely in the overhanging trees, Hutchinson and team immediately set about the rescue of the second reptile.
It was at this point Hutchinson became less sure of his actions. Were these snakes dangerous? Was he, in fact, putting himself and his team in jeopardy? There was no time for snake selfies this attempt, Hutchinson exclaiming "I dunno, I don't like this guy, his attitude's different..."
Whatever the snakes intentions, it too, took to the tree without incident.
Hutchinson initiated an immediate evacuation of the area, the two female travellers (Rebecca Thomas and Emma Sixsmith) close on his tail, Torrie was ignored completely and left to descend the tower via a rusted 40 year old "ladder" by himself.
Back on safe ground, and with adrenaline levels quickly plummeting, Hutchinson continued to deliberate the previously unconsidered risk. "Holy shit" was to be heard by the team a fair number of times on the descent from the mountain peak.
Back at home base (Fours Seasons, Hue #fakevietnam #fakehotelsrock) the band of eco heroes went about identifying the survivors. Hutchinson struck first.
"Holy shit!"
We all verified the find as Cryptelytrops rubeus, commonly known as the Ruby-eyed Green Pitviper, and nicknamed by locals as the "100 pace snake"... in reference to the legend that, once bitten a person can walk only 100 more steps before dropping dead.
A lucky escape not only for the snakes, but also the intrepid explorers, the quartet continue their travels across Asia with scant more regard for danger than before.
Update 13/05/2015 - the Anglo/NZ troop have yet to report their findings (Cryptelytrops rubeus found 1000m higher than reported habitats) to appropriate wildlife authorities and were last seen optimistically crossing the Hoi Van pass on automatic scooters...
http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/194065/0
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110328-new-ruby-eyed-pit-viper-species-found/
No comments:
Post a Comment