For the Snakes of Okinawa the jungles of the Yambaru offer themselves as a perfect haven.
Andersons Crocodile Newt is pretty much a dinosaur. To be found during specific times of the year and in a few pockets of dense jungles in the Northern areas of Okinawa main island, it is sadly in decline due to habitat loss and illegal pet trade poachers.
I was hoping to get a glimpse of predation by Himei Habu Pit Vipers on the otherwise occupied mating Green Tree Frogs which seemed to be teeming all over the place on the night of my initial visitation.
“Never again” came the statement as I lay slumped in a bubbling mess of blisters, macerated soles and limbs screaming with cramps.
And then I saw it. About 80cm in length what looked to be a ‘Habu’, a venomous Pit Viper, but of the three main species that inhabit Okinawa and all of which I’d encountered on numerous times, the marking on this snake were all wrong. It was a lot lighter in color for starters.
Some of you may remember a couple of years ago when I walked the length of Okinawa, South to North, to raise awareness and funds for a couple of veterans causes in both the UK and USA.