Capture of a Gaboon Viper in Kakamega Rain Forest

[tomjohnoman]

Kakamega is a very interesting place. It is now a small and isolated rainforest surrounded by dry savannah and grassland. But it used to be part of the ancient rainforests which used to blanket the majority of Africa before the last ice age. It was left behind and is now a place for very unique animals to branch out from their distant cousins.

[CalvinTeeKai]

Humans Are Wrong Because its in its habitat. And Those Snakes Who Come to peoples houses and it isnt its fault.All humans have cleared forest and now there too less habitat left

[pacevedo9]

Poking and bothering the poor snake like some curious kids... Dumbasses

[WolfKotenberg]

pardon my ignorance about catching/ handling venomous snakes but why is it normal to grab such animal by the tail ? Does this have a calming effect on the snake ?

[mrdylanmagic]

but i do admit this guy was an idiot

[TheLittleWorldofGaz]

My god...it's massive!

[euromessage]

As an experienced news cameraman I do not interfere in the actions in front of the lens. Yes, the spanish guys were stupid, and so was I who shot the video very close. But a little behind me were the forest guards and guids. They looked after that the snake was not injured but transported further into the rain forest away from the childrens playground.

[TheTemest]

Just happened to stumble upon this again and still can't believe what I'm watching. What in the fuck was that douchebag doing starting @2:50? Playing with the most deadly fangs in the animal kingdom. It's shit like that would make me feel nothing for the idiot if that deadly viper bit him and condemned him to his death. Humans and Mother Nature just aren't a good match.

[theapollomoonlanding]

@MisuOfArabonaClan I don't get it.

[SurfNSunFun]

i saw a man get bit by a gaboon viper and he was bleeding from his eyes!

[waspirate]

That was good they moved it deeper in the forest......but that idiot does not know how to handle a venomous snake.......real dumb ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is lucky he did not bleed out of his ass and eye shockets!

[TheTemest]

@waspirate Absolutely! I don't care if this guy is a self-proclaimed expert, the sequence beginning @ 1:48 is complete mishandling of the snake. At ANY time this snake could have struck either leg and to think anything different is denial or stupidity. If this is the way he "handles" all venomous snakes he is nothing more than fortunate to be alive today. Just ridiculous!

[mrdylanmagic]

@TheTemest we all have our opinions

[Julsgab]

What the fuck is my snake doing in Kenya??? Who took it there? It won't be any surprise seeing it in Spain!!! Let it alone, by heaven sake!

[11Requi3m11]

@theapollomoonlanding You should be killed and eaten by a cannibal.

[SezFromMalygos]

that was one calm bitis there!

and a brave man tailing it so close to his feet!

[BacheKhala]

vipers re agressiv I thought and this snake is friendly

[Sanjuro82]

That guy sucks at handling snake. It took him forever to hold of it's head. It's like he was scared of grabbing the snake. Which is the worst thing to do when handling a snake like the Gabon Viper.

[areamkarim]

lovely english

[trainmaster500]

I never knew that the G.vipers body was so wide.. very interesting video!

[fireamracing]

that size gaboon gota have 2in long fangs or better!

[bluenotejazz]

That would make a nice wallet and desk set !

Chop chop chop!

[jayhoyt28]

Yeah and i'll take your skin and make a funny hat.

[LosKarizma]

What a beautiful snake! My favourite actually.

[spiktan]

The snake is in its natural habitat and going about its business , why are they harrassing it like that.Just because its docile and not as aggressive as other vipers doesnt justify this intrusion because this does not seem like scientific research to me

[euromessage]

The snake was very near a path where kids and women were walking. It was moved deeper into the forest. There were several independant parties around, a filmcrew, scientific researchers, forest guards and guides - and me. The forest guides looked after that the snake was not harmed by the film makers. Erik

[spiktan]

@euromessage Thanks for clearing that up mate , Being a Zimbawean myself , I truly understand the the potential danger involved , the viper and people there were fortunate to have you around , because unlike other parts of the world , we actually dont have that many trained pros to handle snakes due to the cultural beliefs(witchcraft) associated with snake wrangling,Carry on lads !

[MisuOfArabonaClan]

@euromessage hi! the "common adder" (crossed viper in hungarian) is only 60-85 cm long and not very territorial, but one easily recognizeable female found her way back to her favourite sunbathe spot from 6 kilometres away. I only wanted to share that with you because we know so few things about snake etology...my point is: if you take a snake somewhere and don't want it to find it's way back, make it 50km or so...just tellin. also, I envy you.

[theapollomoonlanding]

They need to kill all those snakes and monkeys and build farms.

[euromessage]

If they do what you want the rainforest will soon disappear and earth will turn into moon. Also man will disappear. I do not think you want that. The snake is not your enemy. Do not be afraid. Snakes help us control the rats. From Erik who filmed the snake.

[orhvin]

U are wrong ... The animals was there before the people so people need respect that. We should live in peace with enviroment. Greets from Poland.

Hope that Kakamega Rain Forest will exist forever well.

[LosKarizma]

@theapollomoonlanding That was an educated comment..... You're not the brightest bulb in the room....

[brotherhood302]

I hope it bites his white ass...they kill me always in the woods fucking with something!!

[misiuwata]

good job juan!

[ironfisteagleclaw]

These guys were lucky.

[stopfederalism08]

actually they are supposed to be one of the more placid venomous snakes you would run into if u wanna talk about dangerous id say a black mamba or a spitting cobra would be far worse to encounter

[Setebos]

I don't know about deadliest, but I've heard its bite is the most painful.

[VinceMancini]

One of the most dangerious.... IT IS THE MOST DANGERIOUS!!

[NothingSacred27]

"One of the most dangerious.... IT IS THE MOST DANGERIOUS!!"

How so?

[sammytatarevic]

very strong venom and the biggest fangs/teeth in snake kingdom my bro 5.5 cm or 5.7 cm i think

[Macrochenia]

Actually, it's got relatively weak venom. However, it's such a big snake and injects so much venom (the most of any poisonous snake), it's still very dangerous. However, as the video demonstrates, it's not aggressive, and bites are rare

[chasemitch]

wikipedia search bitis gabonicus

its a hell of an animal

[impmaster2]

how is it not one of the most dangerous mate? it has 2 inch fangs it has venom that if u get bit it can kill 10 men with one bite fyi where they live not even the largest predators muck with it

[snoopval]

there venom is not the most toxic but they have the biggest fangs so they can inject more venom, and they are physically the largest venomous snakes, and they strike insanely fast and there venom like sammytatarevic said is very strong, but they are soooo sweet.

[UniteForgetLeftRight]

the bushmaster exceeds its size considerably, the king cobra is much longer but perhaps close to the same weight

[krrrruptidsoless]

@snoopval

Don't they have both hemotoxic and neurotoxic venom. That is what I learned as a kid. If I recall they are the only ones with two types of venom. Making it extremely dangerous. Plus the depth of the bite with the longer fangs.

[dalektaliban]

nope a king cobra could own that

[marksbrisby]

Without a doubt the most beautiful snake in the world that deserves respct

[freakofthenight26]

lol why the fuck would they use a bag those fuckers have fangs that can be over 2 inches long like a bag will stop it lol

[ninostuzlaci]

fuck ya....you stupid

[chance1234asdf]

its all fun and games till someone gets bit, then its gust hilarious.

[guineaswine]

see... the monkeys are smarter than humans

[Cssfan101]

damm thats a big one

[Larrytoucan]

It is sad to see the Anglos without fluidity in the capture.......... they need to go to bed

[tvland2007]

oh hell no! leave the mean lil killa alone!

[chosen11979]

The guy with the hook at the beginning is one dumb bastard. Gabby's are a pretty aggressive species and they are damn lucky to have found one with a low temperment.

[Gruffnut]

Actually Gaboon Vipers are regarded as being fairly easy to work with and rarely strike, plus they tend to be fairly sluggish seeing they are ambush hunters. Certainly if you read some of the herpetological writings on them, many discuss that they can be handled without the need for hooks, as well as embellishing on their docile nature.

[chosen11979]

Maybe the ones bred in captivity. In the wild they will strike angrily and with quickness. The Gabs that I've worked with were most aggressive. To be fair, they were all kidnapped from the wild. I've yet to work with a captive bred species.

[kelasings]

Actually @Gruffnut Gaboon Vipers are not docile. Once upset, the Gaboon will explode in its attempt to bite you. In fact, there are well documented cases of the animal flipping tail over snout to bite someone tailing it. Where certain snakes give you a warning, the Gaboon gives you no warning. It has the ability to fold itself in half. Its attacks and acrobatics to bite are legendary. Once you've seen the Gaboon angry, you will never be the same. That is not to mention the venom and 2in fangs.

[assessor1979]

Yes, i dont think he knows the bite range of this snake.

[StevoDog21]

Would you rather get bit by a Gaboon Viper or a Puff Adder?

[tvland2007]

None of them to be exact because the gaboon vipers venom can kill you in certain amount of minutes the puff adders venom you can survive from being treated with the anti-venom. But still I would not be bitten by neither on of these snakes!

[bosanac009]

wow i like snakes and i know a lot about them i like the phyton thats my favorite snake of all time

and a anocanda

[badaboum223]

you sure you know a lot about them? you can't even spell their names right.

[aksilaj]

this snake is originally from the republic of Gabon in central Africa and he is a deadly snake...u can easily find him the forest...

[magicquartz]

I saw Jeff Corwin handle a gaboon viper and even he got a little hot around the collar while dealing with this snake. Truely a very dangerous reptile. One to be respected carefully.

[thatguy0187]

what an idiot!!! that guy with the hook should have got bit!! beautiful snakes!!!

[impmaster2]

the guy using the twig to detract the fangs was stupid he was so close he could of easily been biten and not even known he was bit their that fast

[Venomroom]

well in theory as long as the other guy had it necked properly then it wouldnt of been able to get his anyway.

[caltrop69]

Agreed. I think they've handled this type of snake before. Quite expert, I think. They took away all of it's leverage, while being gentle. No easy feat, since people have a tendency to do these things too quickly.

[BostonMacK]

Let me just say that whoever was hooking that snake should be thanking his lucky stars. His legs were in easy striking range of that gabby and they strike so fast he would have never seen it coming.

[TimothyScandella]

That's true,they're fucking fast

[Mindlaugh]

Most beautiful snake in the world!

[sapienturk]

WOW!

[ToonandBBfan]

Possibly the worst snake in the world to get bit by!!!!!!!!