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A Guide to the Snakes of Liberia

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A Guide to the Snakes of Liberia Nimba Western Range Iron Ore Project, Liberia Environmental and Social Studies, 2008-2015 A Guide to the Snakes of Liberia Smith’s Water Snake: one of many harmless snakes in Liberia VERSION DATE: 19 SEPTEMBER 2013 ArcelorMittal Liberia Limited P.O. Box 1275 Tubman Boulevard at 15th Street Sinkor, Monrovia Liberia T +231 77 018 056 www.arcelormittal.com Nimba Western Range Iron Ore Project, Liberia Environmental and Social Studies, 2008-2015: Project Phase 2 – Concentrator A Guide to the Snakes of Liberia Contents SNAKE BITES: EMERGENCY GUIDE ................................................................................................. 3 If you have been bitten by a snake: ................................................................................................................. 3 PREVENTING SNAKE BITES .............................................................................................................. 4 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 5 2. SNAKES .................................................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Identification of snakes .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 What makes a snake dangerous? .......................................................................................................... 6 3. PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO LIBERIAN SNAKES ................................................................. 7 3.1 Potentially life-threatening snakes ......................................................................................................... 7 3.2 Potentially harmful snakes ..................................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Harmless snakes ................................................................................................................................. 11 3.3 Other dangerous snakes which probably do not occur in Liberia .......................................................... 13 4. SNAKE BITES........................................................................................................................ 14 4.1 General information about snake bites ................................................................................................. 14 4.2 Factors affecting the outcome of a snake bite ...................................................................................... 14 4.3 First aid in the event of a snake bite ..................................................................................................... 15 4.4 Spitting snakes .................................................................................................................................... 17 4.5 Standard safety measures ................................................................................................................... 17 4.6 Removal of snakes .............................................................................................................................. 18 5. CHECKLIST OF SNAKES OF NIMBA COUNTY, LIBERIA.................................................... 19 6. REFERENCES....................................................................................................................... 21 6.1 Recommended reading ....................................................................................................................... 21 6.2 Photo sources ..................................................................................................................................... 21 Acknowledgements This guide was adapted from a report produced by URS for ArcelorMittal Liberia Limited. The original guide was written by Johannes Penner, with contributions from William Branch, Ben Phalan, Tanya Romanenko and Gareth Hearn. Version: 19 September 2013 Page 2 of 22 Nimba Western Range Iron Ore Project, Liberia Environmental and Social Studies, 2008-2015: Project Phase 2 – Concentrator A Guide to the Snakes of Liberia SNAKE BITES: EMERGENCY GUIDE If you have been bitten by a snake: Don’t panic. Over 90% of Liberian snake species cannot kill you. Most bites are not life-threatening. Stay calm and move around as little as possible. Don‟t try to run or walk to hospital. Call for help. Get others to organise transport to hospital. Remove all tight objects from the bitten limb: rings, bracelets, watches, clothes, shoes. Let the bite bleed freely for some minutes (but do not suck the wound). Apply a Pressure-Immobilization bandage. Drink water. This will help you to stay calm and reduce the likelihood of shock. Do NOT try to catch or kill the snake. This needs to be done by someone who has been properly trained, with special tools. If possible, take a photograph of the snake from a safe distance. Do NOT drink alcohol, coffee or tea or any other liquid which stimulates blood circulation. Do NOT take any medication such as painkillers, other than 1g Paracetamol. Do NOT cut or suck the bite. Do NOT rely on a traditional healer. A bite from a venomous snake needs medical treatment. Unless you have medical knowledge: Do NOT give antivenin. Incorrect administration of antivenin can kill. Do NOT apply a tourniquet (a very tight bandage that stops blood flow). If you get venom in your eyes from a spitting snake: Wash your eyes with plenty of clean water or another safe, neutral liquid (e.g. milk or vegetable oil) for at least 30 minutes. Go straight to hospital. If you are with someone who has been bitten by a snake: Don't panic! Help the victim stay calm. Arrange transport to hospital as quickly and safely as possible. Try to contact the hospital and ensure they are informed of the incident. Be prepared to apply resuscitation measures. Do NOT try to catch the snake. Who to contact: Paramedic: Yekepa: 077 767203 Buchanan: 077 767196 Environmental Officer: Yekepa: 077 926989 Buchanan: 077827308 Version: 19 September 2013 Page 3 of 22 Nimba Western Range Iron Ore Project, Liberia Environmental and Social Studies, 2008-2015: Project Phase 2 – Concentrator A Guide to the Snakes of Liberia PREVENTING SNAKE BITES Nearly every snake can bite and will do so if it feels threatened. However, snake bites are easy to prevent with proper procedures: Do not molest or harm snakes. Watch where you step and what you grab hold of. Use a torch at night. Do not put your hand underneath objects (e.g. logs, metal plates), or in holes without checking them first from a safe distance and by using tools such as a torch, indirect means (e.g. stick). When turning objects on the ground, always make sure that the opening gap points away from you and not towards you or other people. Check shoes, clothes, beds, sleeping bags, etc. before using them. Wear rubber boots or other strong boots which cover the ankle. Wear long trousers, especially in environments with dense vegetation. Wear leather gloves when gathering products from the forest floor and during agricultural work. Keep areas where humans live or work clear: cut grass regularly, trim bushes, and avoid piles of rubbish and litter. Store food and rubbish in sealed containers to avoid attracting rodents, which in turn attract snakes. Do not sleep at ground level, use raised beds and mosquito nets. This will also reduce the likelihood of being bitten by other animals and insects, and will reduce the transmission risk of diseases such as Malaria. Do not keep livestock in the house. Exercise first aid measures and conduct regular snake bite emergency drills as part of the health and safety programme before a bite occurs. If you encounter a snake: Do not try to chase it away. Do not attempt to kill or catch any snake. Snakes should only be removed by trained and properly equipped personnel. Do not behave aggressively as if you are trying to harm it. Back away slowly, without sudden movements that may startle the snake, especially if you are very close to the snake. Use common sense! Version: 19 September 2013 Page 4 of 22 Nimba Western Range Iron Ore Project, Liberia Environmental and Social Studies, 2008-2015: Project Phase 2 – Concentrator A Guide to the Snakes of Liberia 1. INTRODUCTION Snakes are an integral part of many ecosystems. Currently, nearly 3500 species are known worldwide. They range from tiny blind-snakes, feeding on ant and termite eggs, to large species reaching several metres in length – some can reach more than 7m. Although snakes are shy, secretive creatures and mostly poorly studied, an amazing diversity of forms, colours and lifestyles is known. Snakes have adapted to life on land, in fresh water, in the seas, on trees (even gliding from tree to tree), and are found at a range of latitudes and altitudes. In Liberia 11 families (broad groups) of snakes can be found. The role of each within their ecosystem varies widely. In many ecosystems snakes are important predators of potential pest species such as rodents (mice, rats, etc.) which means that they control rodent numbers and keep them at bay. Rodents can pose problems to humans by severely decimating harvests or stored food, and also transmit a number of serious diseases (e.g. Huntington disease, Lassa fever). Snakes orientate themselves very well in their environment. Although only a few species of snake have excellent vision, all are very sensitive to vibrations and can sense walking humans
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