(haipo) – Zohar Lahat, a veteran snake catcher, was called to Einstein Street on one of the days of the war, when many families were spending most of their time indoors. That day, one of the children went out into the yard to let off some energy and then noticed an especially large snake basking in the sun. Within seconds, the snake retreated into a high drain pipe and hid, and Lahat was called to the scene. After a complex rescue, which she described as “almost like giving birth to a baby,” she managed to carefully pull out a large, non-venomous snake from its burrow and return it intact to the wild.
Zohar Lahat in the rescue operation of Zaman Coins in Haifa ◄ Watch
“Like giving birth to a baby”
The incident reportedly occurred while the family was at home due to the security situation. An innocent outing by one of the children to the yard turned into an unusual event: an exceptionally large snake was spotted sunbathing in the sun. As soon as it noticed that someone was looking at it, the snake quickly retreated into a narrow niche of a drainage pipe adjacent to the roof and disappeared. Snake catcher Zohar Lahat was called to the scene and, after a complex rescue, managed to remove the snake intact, unharmed.
Lahat, who arrived at the scene on Einstein Street, examined the ways to approach the snake that was hiding at a height and in a challenging spot. “It felt almost like giving birth to a baby,” she said. At first, she managed to grab the tip of its tail, while the rest of its body was curled deep inside the wall and resisting with its strong muscles. With patience and caution, inch by inch, the snake was released until it came out intact.
This is a coin-tailed python, a non-venomous, exceptionally large snake, apparently an adult individual that came from the nearby wadi and found a creative hiding place in the heart of the urban neighborhood.
The adder, experts explain, is not dangerous to humans and even contributes to the environment by feeding on rodents such as rats. However, when it feels threatened, it may hiss and even bite, which causes people to confuse it with the venomous common viper.
How do you distinguish between a coin viper and a common viper?
There are several clear signs:
- Body and tail structure: The silver tang has a long, thin tail with a straight stripe, while the viper is more bushy and has a very short tail.
- The shape of the pupil: The zeman has round pupils; the viper has cat-like pupils.
- Body model: The snake has circles on its back and sides; the viper has a characteristic curved line and stripes on its sides.
In Israel, all snakes are protected by law, and it is forbidden to harm them or capture them without a permit. When encountering a snake, it is recommended to keep your distance, observe it with eye contact, take a photo and send it to a certified trapper for identification. If necessary, the trapper will arrive quickly, capture the snake humanely and release it back into the wild, away from human habitation. You can contact Zohar Lahat - Snake Catcher directly by phone: 054-245-5627.
Did the article interest you?
Geppetto was an old and lonely carpenter who carved a puppet out of wood and named it Pinocchio, and when night fell and the workshop grew dark, the puppet came to life and became a happy child who called him "Father." Even though he was naughty and mischievous at times, Geppetto taught him to be honest and good until he learned for himself what truth and love were.
Do not harm the zeman of coins. It is good for nature and preys on rats and is not harmful to humans. Even if it makes sounds that a person detects, this is defensive.
When you spot a snake, don't panic. Check its tail to see if it's a viper or a rattlesnake.
Irresponsibility.
Could have slipped and then it would have been a death anniversary.
Amazing work, congratulations on catching the snake and releasing it into the wild!