Mark O' Shea could have been Blinded

Full show can be seen at ITV local.com / central / documentaries - Safari Park episode 8, Mark is in episode 7 as well, with his own King Cobra. World Reknowned TV Presenter and Herpetologist catches a Zebra Spitting Cobra and could have been blinded. Mark was doing research at Ongava Reserve in Namibia and being filmed finding snakes for an ITV Central/Animal Planet Documentary "Safari Park" about the West Midland Safari Park. This is an unedited preview clip. The spitter could have blinded Mark if he hadn't got his sunglasses on to protect his eyes, it showered him with venom as Mark wrestled with it in his grab stick.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Mark
• O'Shea
• Spitting
• Cobra
• Blinded
• TV
• presenter
• battle
• danger
• Africa
• Safari
• reptile

[n310ea]

Great catch. Do spitting cobras only spit, or do they also bite and inject?

[RedheadTV]

Reply from Mark;

Spitting cobras can bite like any other cobra but the fact they have cytotoxic (cell destroying) venom means the bites are ugly and take a long time to heal. Areas away from the bite may erupt in necrosis too, such as the lymph node areas around the body, and ultimately the bite may result in gangrene, amputations or skin-grafts.

Non-spitting cobras have more a neurotoxic venom causing death through respiratory paralysis.

[RedheadTV]

This programme was shown on ITV1 - Central Sunday 1st July '07. The series "Safari Park" will be repeated on Animal Planet, some time in the future... I don't have dates I'm afraid. Mark O'Shea features in episodes 7 and 8.

[itvcentral]

Awesome footage! Beatiful snake too!

[RedheadTV]

Thanks itvcentral, it is an impressive snake. I hope you enjoy the final show when its transmitted. Good to see Mark O'Shea back on the TV again!

[AndyRoddick969]

do your worst ! . . . spits in his mouth.

[Dankster312]

You clearly aren't very familiar with the business.

[trumpicana]

@AndyRoddick969 It wouldnt be so bad if it spat in his mouth would it? He would be just fine, and andy roddick is a dick rod....dicky roddick hahaha. Federer all the way!

[coda92]

@bosswall1 ill agree with you on mark oshea he's a true professional with his use of snake hooks and tongs but austin stevens is stupid he's lucky to be alive after his run in with a cobra not sure what kind i thought it was an egytian cobra but he pisses em off and stresses em out for a "good picture"

[alseenpotvis]

austin sten's a fucking idiot....got bitten by a monocled cobra, reticulated python aalmost got drowned by a green anaconda...and you call him the best in business???...get a life and start watching real snake handers like steve irwin

[rapperDBoy]

Steve irwin is the best no one,no one can hold a candle to steve

[DeclanUK123]

It is a Africa Species of Cobra, and he does not have a School, but he is the curator of reptiles at West Midlands Safari Park, he also does alot of work at PNG helping milk venom from PNG Taipans

[AKingZWldAQu33nZUnVZ]

Hmm out of Curiousity was this a Indian Cobra of a African Cobra? Also does Mark O'Shea have a private school for people who want to become Herpecologists or thats a rumour?

[jamierourketen]

why take your life in your hands?

[technodazed]

I heard that those snakes actually aim for your eyes.