Deep within the dense forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo resides a tribe known as the Pygmies, also referred to as little people, who live in isolation from the outside civilization. Their lifestyle remains primarily based on hunting and gathering, akin to that of primitive societies.
Aside from their modest height, perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this tribe is their practice of hunting venomous snakes for food. When they catch a venomous snake, the tribe members will use knives to cut the snake in half.
In the video above, their target this time is a Western Green Mamba (Scientific name: Dendroaspis viridis) – an extremely venomous snake. The Western Green Mamba is cut into small pieces and then wrapped in banana leaves or skewered on a sharp bamboo stick to be grilled over charcoal.
The Western Green Mamba can grow between 1.4 meters to 2.1 meters in length, and its gentle appearance can easily be mistaken for a harmless species known as the Green Bush Snake (Scientific name: Philothamnus semivariegatus).
The bite from this snake can be fatal within 30 minutes if not treated promptly; however, they rarely attack humans. In terms of conservation status, this species is classified as Least Concern (Stable).
