Pants Down Snake Man.

Poacher caught with pants down





Poachers steal game trophy such as ivory, but a rare type of poacher has been caught in Kakamega.


The man, carrying two poisonous snakes in a bag, was discovered when he stopped to answer a call of nature in the bush at Isecheno village in Shinyalu Division and the reptiles — a Gabon Viper and a Rhino Viper stolen from Kakamega Forest — slithered out.


A man passing by spotted them and raised the alarm. Villagers responded by killing the Gabon Viper, while the other snake escaped during the commotion.


The suspect was arrested by Kenya Wildlife Service officials and handed over to the police.


With the persuasion of a few slaps, he confessed: "I have captured and sold many poisonous snakes from this forest. I sell them in Mombasa."


Snakes are believed to be in high demand at the Coast, where medicinemen extract poison for sexual treatment as aphrodisiacs or for witchcraft.


Snake venom is also exported to India and China to make anti-venom drugs.


There are more than 25 species of snakes at Kakamega Forest National Reserve facing extinction.
Additional Reporting By Rose Obala