IS THIS YOUR POISON?
SNAKES in the City returns for Season 5 to Nat Geo Wild from Wednesday. And its hosts, Simon and Siouxsie, promise lots of exciting and intense captures and releases.
The couple say that some of their snake captures, filmed in Durban, were too close for comfort.
“Different species of snakes featured and we were lucky enough to capture snakes hatching and emerging from their eggs. As with
Snake City, it’s a fast-paced, sit on the edge of your seat and shout at the television kind of show. Never a dull moment,” said Siouxsie about the new season.
The couple have a shared passion for snakes.
“When Simon initially moved to Durban, he found there was a call for this kind of job. People didn’t want the snakes in their homes. Simon loved snakes, a perfect combination!
“But, of course, both of us have a passion for snakes. We are saddened to see how people kill snakes, although we have managed to change so many people’s attitudes because of the show,” Siouxsie said.
The show’s six episodes were shot in Durban and took about four months to film.
The pair said Durban was the chosen place to film due to the huge variety of species of snakes found here, including the world-renowned black mamba.
“Due to deforestation, snakes are entering people’s homes, cars, schools, etc in the Durban area on a regular basis as people invade the snakes’ natural territory more and more. So it made sense for us to film here,” she said.
Siouxsie said the show, aside from the amazing entertainment element, has been a great platform to educate people about snakes.
“Not only has the show helped people in Durban identify their species of snakes and which ones are harmless and which ones are ‘cheeky’, it has also made people aware that help is at hand, so that if you have a snake in or around your property, you can call out a snake catcher to help you, rather than attempt to deal with the snake itself or just kill it,” she said.
They receive messages from people around the world who say that they would normally have killed a snake if they came across one, but since watching the show they have completely changed their attitudes towards snakes and now let them live, she added.
“So basically, because of the show, we are saving snakes around the world, even if you are not a snake lover you’ll enjoy the show, as it’s intense and very gripping to watch. There is a huge risk to both of us in capturing a snake and whether we will – literally – live or die after a capture ... anything could go wrong,”.
“The show is 100% real, showing our roller-coaster of emotions of fear, nerves, excitement and relief when the snake is finally captured and the viewer normally experiences all of those emotions too while watching the show,” Siouxsie said.