Cobra kills ‘fearless’ handler

Respected Western Cape snake handler and wildlife rescuer Rico Pentz died after he was bitten by a snouted cobra on a call-out.

The 39-year-old Helderberg Wildlife Rescue and Animal Anti-Cruelty founder and father of three was rushed to the emergency unit at Mediclinic Vergelegen last Wednesday, where he received eight doses of antivenom.

Pentz’s mother, Rosa Steenkamp, told Netwerk24 that due to the risk of anaphylactic shock, hospital staff could not administer more antivenom, although additional doses might have been required.

According to Steenkamp, Pentz showed no sign of responding to the antivenom.

“It seemed as if his body was not responding. The doctors say they have never seen such a reaction.”

He was moved to Tygerberg Hospital’s intensive care unit on Friday, where he was put on life support. Pentz, however, died on Monday.

“Rico was a person who fought for animals and his family,” said Steenkamp, who was at his hospital bed alongside his life partner, Eva Freedom, until the very end.

“He did not like injustice and would stand up against it. He was truly fearless.”

Pentz, who worked at Eagle Encounters on the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, reportedly underwent extensive treatment in the past when he was bitten by venomous puffadders in two separate incidents.

According to a release by Cape Town’s Mountain Club of South Africa, the main snakebite season is from January to May – hot and wet summer months. During this period, about 80% of snakebites in Southern Africa are recorded.

Western Cape reptile expert Tyrone Ping said Cape cobras, boomslangs and puff adders are “the three most venomous snakes to worry about” in Cape Town.

Durbanville snake catcher Andries Cilliers said harmless mole snakes were in abundance in the Cape Town area and along the West Coast.

He advised Capetonians to regularly trim the trees in their garden and cautioned people who encounter a snake to always maintain a distance of five metres.