There are those of us who cannot stand the thought of meeting a snake face to face. Some won’t even watch wildlife programs on TV that feature snakes. And there are those who would never in a million years contemplate handling a snake. I don’t, I hasten to add, fit in any of those catergories. I have handled snakes, several times and several species. I’ve come head to head with snakes and I’ve even trained as a snake charmer… okay, the last bit is a little exaggeration on my part . If you’ve read my book, A Pat on his Back which is about our move from the UK to Cyprus then you will have read the chapter Snake Charming for Beginners. It’s worth a read for the spectacle of seeing me dressed like a an Indiana Jones type hero, but without the heroics. You see snakes and Cyprus go together, hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other.
Unlike the Caribbean island of Antigua, where they used to have snakes and they are now all gone, thanks to the introduction of the Mongoose. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi came. He saw. He wiped out the snakes. What am I prattling about? Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is a short story by British author Rudyard Kipling, he of Jungle Book fame. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi is a mongoose and some species of mongoose are famous for killing snakes. So in Antigua the snakes are gone and many tourists complain that Antigua is rat infested, when what they are actually seeing is a Mongoose. The cute Meerkat belongs to the Mongoose family.
The point I’m trying to make is that we should consider ourselves lucky, here in Cyprus, that we have a rich diversity of creatures, but that’s not to say I would be too happy about the deadly Blunt-Nosed Viper setting up home in my garden, which is apparently what a snake of some type did this winter.
The picture above was taken today after our pool cleaner had finished his job. He noticed the snake skin, couldn’t miss it really, and called me over to point it out. The skin lay on top of the filter, which means the snake had been sleeping in the bowels of the pool pump and filter housing. Then, as it got warmer it climbed up (yes, some snakes can climb) to lay on the filter and the closed lid of the plastic housing would have warmed it until it was ready to slough its skin.
I’m now actively seeking to have fly-screens fitted to all doors… I ain’t afraid of no snakes!
Tom Kane © 2018
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Living in Cyprus: 2013 to 2017 – an English expat’s life in Cyprus
Living in Cyprus: 2013
Living in Cyprus: 2014
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Living in Cyprus: 2016
Living in Cyprus: 2017
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The Eternal Man – Science Fiction short stories & flash fiction
Hitler’s Secret Atomic Bomb – The evidence for Hitler’s atomic weapon program – FREE
An Indie Author Guide to Blogging – Helpful advice, hints and tips for bloggers – FREE
Operation Werwolf – World War 2 Action Adventure, based on a true story
Living in Cyprus
Living in Cyprus: 2014
Living in Cyprus: 2015 – FREE
Living in Cyprus: 2016
Living in Cyprus: 2017
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