Snake Charmer Dies From Venomous Cobra Bite in Mouth and Finger

KIGOMA, NW Tanzania - James Henry, a 60-year-old snake charmer, plays with a cobra and dies after the reptile bites him in the mouth and fingers.

Henry was known in the area for catching and killing highly venomous snakes. The incident occurred in a village in the Kigoma region when the snake charmer was called to capture and kill two cobras that were roaming the area.

Henry succeeded in capturing and killing the first cobra. However, after catching the second snake, he began to play with the poisonous snake to enthrall the onlookers.

James Manyama, Assistant Commissioner of Police, reported that the cobra lunged at the snake charmer and managed to bite Henry's mouth and finger.

Henry was taken to a local medical facility and treated with an antivenom shot for the snake bite. However, the man died while being treated.

Manyama explained that Henry was revered primarily for his expertise in capturing and killing venomous snakes. In an unexpected turn of events, however, the cobra turned on him.

Tanzania and Snake Charming

Tanzania is located in East Africa. It is best known for its vast wilderness areas, including the plains of the Serengeti National Park, Kilimanjaro National Park, and a safari mecca populated by elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos.

It is also home to several species of cobras, including the black-necked spitting cobra, the red spitting cobra, and the Mozambique spitting cobra. Egyptian cobras are common in Tanzania and the rest of Africa.

The species of the cobra that bit Henry has not been identified.

Snake charmers are also known in Tanzania as street performers, magicians, or spell-casters. During their performances, they often show the public their skills of coaxing and "hypnotizing" venomous snakes with a flute, juggling, and performing other dangerous tricks that involved handling the snakes.

Snake charming is a part of Tanzanian culture. In many traditional Sukuma religious ceremonies, snake charming is part of their worship music.

Across Africa, about one million snakebites are reported each year. In rural areas, the death toll from snakebites is higher because antivenom is less accessible.

Because venomous snakes often hide in weeds, locals often accidentally step on the creatures by mistake and are bitten.

Snake charmers like Henry use their expertise in dealing with venomous snakes to rid villages of the dangerous creatures that ordinary people are reluctant to deal with.

PETA on Snake Charming

The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has pointed out that venomous snakes used in the performances are captured, taken from their natural habitat, and mistreated.

The organization explained that trappers tear out the snakes' teeth without painkillers and sew up the snakes' mouths except for a small gap through which milk and water are fed. The venom ducts are often pierced with a hot needle, causing the glands to burst.

PETA explains that the snakes do not dance, but sway fearfully in response to the snake charmer's movements.

The Indian Wildlife Act of 1972 banned snake charming, yet snake charmers continue to perform in many parts of the world.