Guinea is home to the world’s highest concentration of mambas, cobras, and vipers, causing approximately 3,600 deaths every year from venomous snake bites. We had the opportunity to witness the work of the Snakebite Foundation, which provides lifesaving anti-venom treatment to those bitten by snakes and conducts research on venomous snakes. 

We joined the foundation’s specialist on a three-hour hike through the forest, using flashlights to search for snakes, scorpions, and other creatures. Although we were lucky to find a few snakes, a chameleon, and a jungle rat, we didn’t come across any poisonous snakes that night. To learn more about snake behavior, the researchers had caught a green mamba a few days earlier. We were fortunate enough to join them in putting a GPS tracker on the mamba, which was a significant step forward for the research team. The Snakebite Foundation plays a crucial role in saving lives in Guinea, and further support for research and assistance is always needed.