Snakes Have Right of Way

From the outset of his bid to set a world snake “sit-in” record, AUSTIN STEVENS is left in no doubt as to whose behaviour will have to be adapted if he is to survive this self-imposed incarceration with his venomous room-mates.

SNAKES HAVE RIGHT OF WAY is an entertaining and often hilarious account of Austin’s record-breaking 107 days and nights spent in a glass cage with 36 venomous snakes, a humanitarian feat which he attempted in an effort to raise funds to procure a mate for Kaiser, the lonely male gorilla housed at the Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park. He relates the behind-the-scenes story of this time spent in the cage with a delightful sense of humour and optimism, attributes which no doubt helped him survive this potentially dangerous isolation he had imposed on himself, which included a near fatal bite from a cobra.

The lengthy period of isolation allowed Austin much time for reflection and he shares his thoughts, misgivings, fears, highs and lows of this unique experience, while at the same time bringing to light some of the outrageous characters involved in the business of running a zoo.

Austin Stevens was born in South Africa and spent many years working as curator of herpetology at the Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park in South Africa, and in Germany, where he assisted in the design and establishing of the Nordharzer Schlangenfarm. Austin has four previously published paper-back books, including his most recent RUNNING WILD and he is internationally known for his Animal Planet TV series; Austin Stevens Snakemaster, Austin Stevens Most Dangerous, and Austin Stevens Adventures.

Austin now resides in Australia with his wife Amy.