Capture of a Gaboon Viper in Kakamega Rain Forest

[@peinXXrules]

I know your comment is from a while ago, but I'll answer haha "tailing" works well with cobras and mambas (as well as other elapids) because they cannot strike from behind effectively. Thus, "tailing" is a relatively safe way to handle them. However, this doesn't work well with gaboon vipers because unlike cobras, gaboons can strike from behind VERY fast with no problem, the film crew just got lucky they stumbled upon a pretty docile gaboon!

[@jereethompson5337]

peinXXrules marry me

[@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.

[@petertaylor8503]

Anyone who has experience with this species or is aware the history of these and other large powerful vipers, knows that it is very ill-advised to have a second person working close and putting their hands anywhere near the snake without special protection or shielding - EVEN WHEN it is being restrained(! ) they will still react to movement near their head and attempt to defensively bite any such threat coming into their space - Gaboon vipers, puff adders, rhino vipers Bitis genus snakes, large lancehead vipers and rattlesnakes are so explosive when they strike, that despite the handler maintaining a grip on the head, these snakes often manage to lunch several inches to reach and bite a second person. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE have been bitten that way including, famously, Marlin Perkins of the St. Louis Zoo who nearly died at the age of 24 from an accident that occurred in just that manner. AND of course when you are in the field and away from available, expert medical assistance and you're nailed - what happens next? Unmolested Gaboons are generally unaggressive snakes which to not generate a lot of bites to the local populace, though the potential for harm is obviously high.

[@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.

[@InsultAlienLP]

that was one calm bitis there! and a brave man tailing it so close to his feet!

[@peinXXrules]

that's what I was thinking haha I've heard from venomous snake handlers that Gaboons are pretty chill as far as venomous snakes go, but normally snakes don't like their heads touched, but that feller just took it all! btw I'm a girl, not a sir :)

[@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

[@-Aurumn-]

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.

[@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 ?

[@crooksidewood]

That's what makes them so dangerous !!! They look slow, but they strike SOOOOO fast !!! Their fangs are also so long.

[@kurtilein3]

i think, and many agree, that this is the most beautiful species of snake in existence, just look at the pattern. The blue segments with different shades of blue fading into each other, some of them also have green in the pattern. The video doesnt really show it that well, maybe between 2:25 and 2:35. Its a venomous and physically powerful snake, but typically gentle, compared to other species. But the pattern is just ridiculous, and this is just an average one.

[@youjoker9647]

Totally agree. Stunning snakes. I love Retics but for pattern & colour Gaboon vipers are special.

[@DeGeneres10]

We used to hav a snake here called "imbilikong'o to the locals. Whats its english name?

[@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

[@TwentytenS4B8]

So why are they tormenting it? Just bag it and take to the release spot.

[@monsterassult666]

I agree with moving it to a better area away from children (ect) but what I don't agree with is holding the poor thing down like that, shoving a camera in its face and poking at its mouth with sticks, THAT was NOT necessary!

[@musa2843]

Locals will be amazed to hear that the creature should be handled in a better manner because from childhood they were told to kill any snake on sight before it strikes.

[@marksbrisby]

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

[@zZmiLLi]

That Gaboon has such a big body I swear I thought they were picking up a python at first and were going to get to the Gaboon after that. Amazing to find that in the wild, and with the help of the monkeys no less.

[@musa2843]

@01:02 particularly I like the local dialect 'spoken in English'

[@misiuwata]

good job juan!

[@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.

[@HeartofTexasArmory]

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.

[@chipledhungaman]

No animals were hurt during recording but one was severely messed about with.

[@owen7185]

You're asking for trouble holding it, it's fangs can go through their bottom jaw and get you

[@slippinjimmy4239]

That all depends on how you hold it

[@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.

[@tomservo3401]

I wonder why the gaboon viper evolved to be so docile? All those people around messing with it and it never tried to bite just get away.

[@kgfes]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWrUkoKmi9Kfg9E not always docile

[@lwc888]

That is a calm snake

[@MrLJolley06]

lwc888 yes it is. Scary too.

[@UniteForgetLeftRight]

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

[@TheLittleWorldofGaz]

My god...it's massive!

[@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.

[@WolfKotenberg]

thaqnk you, sir. I just thought amazing how quiet this beast was. Maybe smoked some local weed and was high on something

[@ironfisteagleclaw]

These guys were lucky.

[@scottygullett5201]

The Gaboon viper is a very beautiful snake but the reticulated python is much more beautiful

[@JELANI_SIERRA]

Nope

[@NothingSacred27]

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

[@assessor1979]

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

[@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!

[@abrahamlopez7325]

The first thing I said rot myself was that the snake looked short, fat, slow, but pretty dangerous and powerful

[@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!

[@notnoahlux]

Cool

[@BacheKhala]

vipers re agressiv I thought and this snake is friendly

[@sammytatarevic]

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

[@mrdylanmagic]

@TheTemest we all have our opinions

[@tvland2007]

oh hell no! leave the mean lil killa alone!

[@VinceMancini]

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

[@owen7185]

Wow that's a fuckin huge one

[@tenacaldwell7955]

Poor snake.

[@chance1234asdf]

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

[@WolfKotenberg]

got it !

[@badaboum223]

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

[@Larrytoucan]

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

[@ToonandBBfan]

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

[@Setebos]

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