This really does call into question the validity of Darwinian theory.

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Independent Online
By Nadine Visagie
April 08/2008
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A 15-year-old boy, who claims that his room is home to nearly 150 snakes, is recovering in hospital after he was bitten by a deadly Cape cobra.

However, this is not "Snake Boy" Bokamosho Nthelang's first visit to hospital. He has been bitten twice before, once by a cobra and once by a puffadder.

After the previous two incidents all the dangerous snakes were removed from his house by the department of environment and conservation.

Last week Nthelang, from Mothibistad near Kuruman, was admitted to Kimberley Medi-Clinic after he was bitten by yet another lethal snake.

According to the spokesperson for Kimberley Medi-Clinic, Denise Coetzee, Nthelang was admitted to hospital on Wednesday, 24 hours after he was bitten.

"I felt dizzy and my finger started swelling. I also had difficulty breathing," the boy told reporters who visited him in hospital.

According to Coetzee, being bitten by venomous snakes could create a life-threatening situation because none of the smaller towns or ambulances have anti-venom in stock.

Although Nthelang's bite was not too serious, she said the bites differed and that he could have faced severe trouble breathing after only two hours if the bite had contained more venom.

"The venom mainly affects the nervous system which induces pain and causes trouble with breathing," she said.

Nthelang said he kept about 150 snakes in his room and had started collecting at the age of 10.

"The first snake that I caught was a rinkhals. Since then I have added several Cape cobras, brown snakes, red-lip snakes, puffadders and a Burmese python to my collection."

Nthelang also said some of the snakes had been removed by Nature Conservation last year and that they had promised him a permit, which he had still not received.

Spokesperson for the department of economic affairs, tourism, environment and conservation, Wilma Paulse, confirmed that all the dangerous snakes had been removed from Nthelang's home last year and that he was warned not to collect any additional snakes.

Spokesperson for the ministry of environment and conservation, Les Abrahams, said that during a previous visit to the boy's home, they found that the youngster was fascinated by the reptiles.

"We will consider giving him formal training in snake handling in the future. However, no permission has been given to him to keep all the snakes."

Abrahams added that the matter would be fully investigated.

Another point for Charles Darwin.

Darwin assumed that selective breeding would enhance the characteristics of the species. Seems this kid went the other direction.

What, no black mambas?

He maybe stupid but not that stupid with regard to that other snake.