PAPUA NEW GUINEA SNAKEBITE PROJECT
BROWNSNAKE HUNT

Despite the omens we failed to find a single snake, live or dead. On our way back to Higatura, at Dobudura, the old WWII airstrip, we encountered several bush fires. We explored the fires for fleeing snakes but were in competition with the neighbour-hood hawks. When the fires were close to the dirt road we saw dozens of Mys' four-fingered skinks (Carlia mysi) and Papuan Peninsula litter skinks (Carlia curta) fleeing the flames being driven onto the road. We attempted to capture some skinks but the hawks were faster than us, swooping in, casting a shadow over us as they came down right above our heads, and snatching the lizards from in front of us. They took many skinks but only one snake was seen crossing the road and that fast-moving serpent made is safely, and unidentified by us.

Mark on the road, awaiting snakes fleeing the fire	The hawks doing likewise in the trees
Inside the bush fire
In come the dive bombing hawks to pluck fleeing skinks from the road

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