Well, a funny thing happened to me on the way to "Church" a few Sundays ago. I was actually late for an appointment to take a client into the Rainforest to hunt and photograph Dragonflies. And (as I often do) I walked barefoot out of the Museum at Maya Kingdom Adventures, without paying attention to where I was walking......which I NEVER DO! As I stepped off the stone steps...again without looking, and felt the unmistakable cold coils of a Snake wrapped around my leg.
Now, understand this: I'm no amateur! I've spent nearly 50 years of my life in the bush, as a professional Herpetologist and Wildlife Collector. And this is no walk in Central Park...this is deep in the Tropical Jungles of Belize. But for a moment (perhaps a "Senior" moment) I let down my guard. A lapse which could have easily cost me my life. I have taken some pride in the fact that I have only ONCE been bitten by a Venomous Snake....also from a lapse of attention. I had been determined all these years to never let that happen again. But here it was.....AGAIN!
In a millisecond my brain processed some very useful information, as it reacted to the unknown serpentine coils about my ankle. Information like "Man...was this DUMB!" and simultaneously "Jump Stupid"! Thankfully I still have some of my legendary "cat-like reflexes", and lept like a Gazelle into the morning air. When I came down from Low Earth Orbit, I was astonished to find that I had stepped directly upon a beautiful MAYAN CORAL SNAKE! How I emerged without so much as a scratch, is still up for discussion. Most likely my BARE FOOT came down directly upon the head of the Deadly Snake, pinning it to the ground, and making it impossible for the snake to turn and sink it's fangs into my foot.
Thankfully, neither the Snake nor I was harmed in any way! Both (I hope) gained new respect for the other. It would be a shame to see such an incredibly beautiful and special animal injured by my Human Stupidity! For the Mayan Coral Snake is truly a Living Jewel of the Neotropical Forests of Belize.
If you would like to join one of our exciting Belize Herpetology Collecting and "Photo Safaris", just contact Maya Kingdom Adventures at www.spiritwindbelize.com
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