It took months of treatment and rehabilitation, but a puff adder that was badly injured on a farm between Stellenbosch and Somerset West has finally slithered back into the wild!
Stellenbosch, South Africa (08 January 2026) – The story starts when Stellenbosch Snake Removal’s Emile Rossouw received a call in April 2025, after an incident on a farm between Stellenbosch and Somerset West.
The call came from the farm owner’s father. Workers were digging trenches on the property when the puff adder moved into one of them. While the supervisor wasn’t watching, one of the workers stabbed the snake with a gardening fork.
Emile was contacted immediately and went out to remove the snake. In this case, the farm owners were supportive from the get-go and offered to cover both the call-out fee and the veterinary costs required for the snake’s care.
Once home, Emile assessed the puff adder’s condition and realised just how serious the injuries were.
“It was very bad. The lung was pierced,” he shares with Good Things Guy.
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His next call was to Die Boord Veterinary Clinic to reach Dr James Jackson, who often assists Emile with venomous snakes. At the clinic, Dr Jackson disinfected the snake’s wounds, inserted stitches and prescribed a course of antibiotics.
For the following eight months, the badly injured puffy’s fate rested with Emile. Months of wound care and close monitoring lay on the horizon, but hope was leading strong.
Because the snake’s lung had been pierced, the recovery was really slow. The stitching left the snake’s body crooked, which affected how it moved. Emile kept the snake through multiple shedding cycles, watching closely to see whether its condition improved.
“With every shed, it got better,” he said.
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Once Emile removed the stitches and the snake began feeding well, he started short supervised sessions outside, allowing it to move and regain strength on grass. Once the puffy’s slither was fully restored, it was time for release.
That day came along last week at Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, eight months after the initial injury. Puffy peacefully slithered away, and that’s how the story ends.
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“If you come across a venomous snake on the property, call an expert and don’t take action unless you are a certified snake handler. Make the call, keep an eye on the snake’s position, and ensure that pets and children are kept away,” shares Emile.
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