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Ghana 2003

The mention of snakes, evokes terrible fears in this part of the world. Snakes are perceived as dangerous, harmful and unfriendly animals. It is common to kill them on sight.

People have different views about snakes. Mr Ernest Lamptey, an official of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, says religious, folklores, traditions and lack of understanding about the contributions of snakes to the ecology, agriculture, economy, trade, medicine and science and technology, have facilitated the consternation of snakes.

For instance, the snake is perceived as evil or bad omen. The Biblical story of the serpent giving the "fruit" to Eve, the wife of Adam, the first man and woman, which sparked off sins in the world is popular among Christians. The sight of snake in dreams are seen as misfortune in certain religions.

Expressions such as treacherous, "snake in the grass," "snaky movement," snake charmer , among others, lend credence to the perceived notions. Snakes belong to the long legless crawling reptiles. They are amphibians and live in water and on land.

The royal python, African python, common royal python, vipas, night adas, cobra, boa and "Kum Abofoo" are examples of snakes in the country. Most of them are not poisonous. Unlike the advanced countries like Canada, UK and US, statistics on the population of snakes in Ghana and other African countries are difficult to come by. Massachusetts has about fourteen species of native snakes. None of them are aggressive, although - like most animals - they will defend themselves if threatened, injured or captured.

Reproduction

Depending on the species, snakes may be egg-layers or give birth to live young. According to the Massachusetts University, snakes generally mate and shortly after leaving whatever hollow, burrow or rock crevice that has sheltered them through winter hibernation. Egg-layers usually deposit their clutches (groups of eggs) in dirt, beneath stones or logs, or in piles of decaying wood or vegetation during late in the rainy or dry seasons. Whether deposited as eggs or dropped as fully formed miniature adults, snakes are on their own from the start. Snakes do not take any responsibility for the care and protection of their young. Most snakes mature at one or two years of age, and individuals may live up to twenty years in the wild.

Habitat

They occupy a wide range of habitats. These include fields, forests, wetlands, ponds, lakes, streams, rocky hillsides, farmland, vacant lots, uncompleted buildings and residential neighbourhoods. Within those habitats, snakes may travel along the ground, swim, climb trees and bushes, and venture below ground. Although some snakes do burrow, most "snake holes" are produced by chipmunks, mice, shrews and other small mammals. Many snakes utilise these burrows for food, shelter and egg laying sites, but most species don't dig holes.

"Cold-blooded"

Snakes are "cold-blooded." They are, however, unable to regulate their body temperatures by generating heat. During the active season they are rarely cold and are surprisingly good at regulating their temperatures through behaviour. They can warm themselves by basking in the sun, lying under rocks or boards that are in the sun, or by lying on rocks and pavement that hold the heat after dark. When the air temperature is too hot, they seek shelter in small mammal burrows, under rocks and occasionally in cool cellars.

Ecological and Agricultural link

Mr Lamptey pointed out that snakes are important components of the natural ecosystems. Common in many types of habitat, they affect the "balance of nature" as both predators and prey. All snakes are predators. Depending on size and species, they may feed on invertebrates such as slugs, worms and insects, or on fish, amphibians, snakes, birds, bird eggs and small mammals. Species such as the milk snake and black rat snake consume great numbers of rodents, and their presence around barns is of great benefit to farmers. In particular, the milk snake regularly enters burrows and will consume young mice and rats right in the nests. Garter, redbelly and brown snakes frequently consume garden pests such as slugs and certain soft-bodied insects. Mr Lamptey says, "from the ecological point of view, snakes help to control rodents, rats, grasscutter and pest." "It is nature's way of bringing about balance in the ecology."
The use of chemicals in controlling rodents and pests rather pollute the environment. Snakes are the easiest, more friendly, less expensive and natural.

Other features

Snakes find their prey by sight and scent, and sometimes temperature. Except for burrowing species, snakes have excellent short-range vision. Their sense of smell is extraordinary, thanks to a harmless, constantly flicking forked tongue that carries scent particles to a specialised sensory organ ('Jacobson's organ') on the roof of the mouth. Some species catch their prey by hunting it down, others through ambush, and, although it is not known for certain, most species probably scavenge dead prey as well. Some species kill their prey through poisonous bites, others by constriction, still others by simply overpowering and then swallowing their prey. Lacking any chewing teeth, all snakes swallow their meals whole. Depending on the size of the meal and the temperature of their resting habitat, snakes may eat as often as several times a day or as rarely as once a month.

Snakes and their eggs are in turn eaten by fish, amphibians, other snakes, birds and predatory mammals such as skunks, racoons and opossums. Birds are their most serious predators - and not just hawks and owls. Songbirds consume great numbers of small snakes and it is not unusual to see the tail of a young garter snake dangling from the overstuffed gullet of a nestling robin.

Most of them use defensive manoeuvres. Several species are nothing more offensive than releasing foul-smelling anal secretions. Other species attempt to frighten or intimidate potential enemies through bluff: flattening their heads, puffing up their bodies, rattling their tails or hissing. In self defence, some will indeed bite.

Frequently encountered by fishermen and boaters, the water snake is one of the most prolific species and can be found in virtually all ponds, river and wetland habitats. Though large individuals may look quite sinister with their triangular heads and heavy bodies, these stocky eaters of fish and frogs are harmless and should not be confused with the venomous cottonmouth "water moccasins" of the south-eastern states.

Though relatively rare, a chance encounter with a hognose snake is always memorable. This harmless "great pretender" puts on such a fearsome display when alarmed that it actually looks and sounds far more dangerous than either of other venomous snakes. This habitual eater of toads will inflate its body, hiss loudly, lunge about ferociously and spread a surprising cobra-like hood. Despite this impressive appearance, it almost never bites.

If this incredible bluff fails to drive off the offender, the hognose will writhe about, vomit, roll over on its back and let its tongue loll out. In short, it puts on the appearance of a thoroughly dead snake. If turned upright, the snake will immediately roll on its back again. When the danger is past, however, the hognose will cautiously raise its head, turn over, and be off about its business.

Mr Lamptey said snakes serve as food for some people. Culturally, the snake is viewed as an intelligent animal. They offer employment to people as scientists, herbalist and researchers, snake farmers.

Threats

Bush fires, inappropriate farming practices; slash and burn, the use of harmful chemicals, illegal trade in wildlife resources, laxity in enforcing wildlife laws, destruction and depletion of forest and other natural resources pose serious threat to the existence of snakes. Snake farming as an income generating venture and a means to safeguard this resource has not been effective in the country even though the farms are not capital intensive. Wildlife officers and environmentalists should start the campaign to save snakes from extinction.