0:00:04 > 0:00:08On Deadly 60, I've had loads of incredible animal encounters.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Here's just one of my many favourites.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Deadly 60 might not just be about
0:00:20 > 0:00:22the animals that are dangerous to people,
0:00:22 > 0:00:25but you couldn't come to South Africa and not do snakes.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Some of the most exciting snakes in the world are found in this area.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32So, to show you as much about them as possible,
0:00:32 > 0:00:34I've come to Khamai Reptile Park
0:00:34 > 0:00:37to meet an old friend and a great hero of mine,
0:00:37 > 0:00:39and if you think that I'm a bit obsessed with snakes,
0:00:39 > 0:00:42trust me, you haven't seen anything yet.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Where is he?! He's gone!
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- Hello!- Don! How are you?
0:00:48 > 0:00:51- DOG BARKS - Oh, my goodness! Deadly dog!
0:00:51 > 0:00:54We've been checking out some of the snakes here in the park
0:00:54 > 0:00:57and we've narrowed it down to three contenders
0:00:57 > 0:00:59for the Deadly 60 list.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02SNAKE HISSES
0:01:02 > 0:01:06Even people that are passionate about snakes, like Donald and I,
0:01:06 > 0:01:07can never really agree
0:01:07 > 0:01:10on what the most dangerous snakes in South Africa are,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13so we're gonna have a good look at these snakes in detail.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15- What better place than the snake pit?- Yeah!
0:01:19 > 0:01:23I have to say, Don, this is a genius idea of yours
0:01:23 > 0:01:27to have this chat surrounded by deadly venomous snakes.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30The sound man doesn't look too happy about it!
0:01:30 > 0:01:32I'm scared!
0:01:32 > 0:01:37We're talking about a lot of snakes that potentially could harm humans,
0:01:37 > 0:01:40but there's only one in the whole of Africa
0:01:40 > 0:01:43that could actually eat a person. All these other ones,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46if they strike you, if they get venom into you,
0:01:46 > 0:01:48they're only doing it from defence,
0:01:48 > 0:01:52but a rock python, potentially, could kill and eat a person.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54You stink! You smell terrible!
0:01:55 > 0:01:59You smell like perfumes, you smell like soaps, you smell like clothing.
0:01:59 > 0:02:00Pythons don't eat that.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03If you don't go bath for a month or two, maybe.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07You're talking about a snake that can be as long as a limousine,
0:02:07 > 0:02:09as fat around as my waist is,
0:02:09 > 0:02:11it's got that strength, that ability,
0:02:11 > 0:02:13to choke the life out of a creature.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17And then, you know, once it's done that,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19it can pretty much dislocate its entire jaw,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22walk its mouth over prey that's phenomenally big.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Not a big lad like you, no.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26You're not gonna be eaten by an African python.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31When they strike and you see all of those massive rows
0:02:31 > 0:02:34of recurved, needle-sharp teeth, that can be really scary.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39Scary, yes, but appearance doesn't portray aggression.
0:02:39 > 0:02:40Here's a python.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42STEVE LAUGHS
0:02:42 > 0:02:44That's not fair!
0:02:44 > 0:02:48You can't bring a little cuddly one like that into the equation!
0:02:48 > 0:02:50You're totally blowing my argument, Don!
0:02:50 > 0:02:53OK, fair enough, I'm gonna give you rock python.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56What's your next argument?
0:02:56 > 0:03:00The black mamba's got to be the most dangerous of the snakes.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03This really is an awesome creature.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05It's the largest venomous snake in Africa,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09growing up to four-and-a-half metres,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13and if you were trying to run away from it, it could overtake you.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18The name black mamba refers to the black lining of its mouth.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22It actively hunts its prey and there's enough venom in one bite
0:03:22 > 0:03:25to kill as many as 20 or 30 men.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27It's quite a nasty way to go,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30I would imagine, being bitten by a black mamba.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Black mamba's got a neurotoxin, nerve-affecting venom.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37It's gonna kill you within 15 minutes to maybe two hours.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40When you speak about other snake venoms, it takes hours
0:03:40 > 0:03:41or days to kill.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45But, it paralyses, so stops breathing, stops heart,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47and you are then clinically dead.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50OK, I tell you what I'll go for. It's the rinkhals.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57To show you a rinkhals in action, we've taken one
0:03:57 > 0:03:59to the bush outside the sanctuary.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02This is a fiery snake!
0:04:02 > 0:04:06You can see he's rearing up towards me, ooh!
0:04:06 > 0:04:09And just flicked venom all down my arm!
0:04:09 > 0:04:13Certainly not as accurate as you see in some spitting cobras,
0:04:13 > 0:04:17but if it goes in the eyes, it's gonna be just as effective.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Now... Look at that!
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Ooh! Perfect.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24He actually flicked venom straight at me.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Actually, a little bit went into my mouth.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30You can taste is has a kind of rusty taste to it.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34'The venom can't harm me unless it gets into my bloodstream.'
0:04:34 > 0:04:36That actually did go right into my mouth.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40What I'm trying to do is restrain the head.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44To actually give it an impression of what would happen
0:04:44 > 0:04:46if an animal was to attack it, what it would do.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53So, I'm just gently hoping that I'll be able to hold the head down...
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Wow!
0:04:56 > 0:04:59OK...
0:05:01 > 0:05:03And he just spat straight at the camera.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07I think there are a few flecks of venom just on the outside
0:05:07 > 0:05:08of the lens hood.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14'This isn't hurting the snake but it does allow me to show you
0:05:14 > 0:05:16'how incredible it is.'
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Now... With the head restrained,
0:05:19 > 0:05:24and the snake really feeling like it has nowhere to go,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28the next thing that the rinkhals does...
0:05:30 > 0:05:31..is play dead.
0:05:35 > 0:05:36Look at that!
0:05:36 > 0:05:40From the ferocious, agitated, moving snake we had before,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44it's gone totally limp, so this
0:05:44 > 0:05:47is the rinkhals' last line of defence.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51No motion whatsoever and any animal that won't take dead prey
0:05:51 > 0:05:55is not gonna be interested, it's gonna leave it alone.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59Anything that will and gets up too close is gonna get a nasty surprise,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01and probably a bite.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Now that's what I call a clever snake.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08That's brains! People think of snakes
0:06:08 > 0:06:11as being creatures with tiny, insignificant brains,
0:06:11 > 0:06:15that are stupid, only think about eating, sleeping and getting warm.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17The rinkhals proves it is absolutely not true.
0:06:17 > 0:06:22So, is it the rock python, with its incredible strength and size?
0:06:23 > 0:06:28Fast, furious and highly venomous, the black mamba is a true contender
0:06:28 > 0:06:29for the deadly title.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Or is it the rinkhals, with its venom-flicking ability
0:06:33 > 0:06:34and deadly tactics?
0:06:34 > 0:06:39I think the black mamba gets my Deadly 60 stamp,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41but I mean, I throw it open to you lot. What do you think?
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Yeah, black mamba. We agree with you, Steve. I agree with you.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Whatever you say, Steve. You're the expert.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Black mamba - sorted.
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