Branch Member

Johan Marais

Branch Member – Tembo Branch

Herpetologist

Johan Marais is a herpetologist and author of several books on reptiles, including the best-sellers Complete Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa, Snakes and Snakebite in Southern Africa and Kids’ Book on Snakes of Southern Africa. He has dedicated most of his life to reptile conservation, served as chairperson of the first South African Reptile Conservation Assessment, and co-edited and authored various species accounts in the 2014 South African Red Data Book of Reptiles of South Africa, Eswatini, and Lesotho.

He is the CEO of the African Snakebite Institute and conducts snake awareness, snake identification, first-aid for snakebite, and venomous snake handling courses throughout South Africa and in 19 African countries. These courses also cover spiders and scorpions.

With over two million people on social media, the African Snakebite Institute offers a range of free initiatives on snakes, including posters, profiles, E-Books, and a popular free app, ASI Snakes.

With over half a million of his books sold over the past forty years, hundreds of talks, magazine, and newspaper articles, and both radio and TV appearances, he has seen a marked change in people’s attitude towards snakes. At the first HuntEx show, most people would come up to the ASI stand and speak about how they kill snakes on sight. Today, ASI sell hundreds of snake tongs every month and has over 800 snake removers on the app. Children love learning more about snakes and their role in nature. Johan can confirm that educating people pays off handsomely.