Lake Victoria: Fishermen worried over snakes and monitor lizards

The reptiles are said to live under exposed rocks and reeds left by the 'returning' waters.

A number of fishermen say they have encountered what they believe are rock pythons on the shores of the lake.

According to John Ochieng, a local who lives just a few metres from the shores of the lake, there haven’t been any recent cases of snake bites – but residents are living with some level of fear.

“Sometimes fishermen go out to fish after nightfall; when it is dark and dangerous. You never know what can happen,” says Ochieng.

“The snakes often hide between rocks and reeds on the shallow shores. It is refreshing that we have not had cases where someone has been bitten,” says Byron Otieno, also a fisherman.

Other fishermen who focus on the ingenious traditional fishing methods that involve laying fish traps have reported catching snakes.

“One has to be careful when harvesting fish from the traps because there are times when you find snakes and fish in the same trap,” said a fisherman in Tito village, within Migori County. 

Residents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting said that the receding lake has left behind rocks which have cracks and fissures that often act as convenient hiding places for the reptiles.

Fishermen scouring the shores for an elusive catch told Wananchi Reporting that they have had to be very careful when out there.

Monitor lizards and snakes from the lake also sneak into homes bordering the lake, and chase down chicken - the residents claim.

“These reptiles like cool places, especially now that it is very hot. That is why they come to our homes; even enter our houses, especially grass-thatched houses which are very cool,” says Ochieng who lives just a few meters from the shores of Lake Victoria.

The residents are now asking the county government to empower fishermen, especially those using traditional fishing methods; train them on first aid measures and on human animal interaction.