In South Africa, a 28-year-old man named Marius Joubert, who had been recently arrested for smuggling animals, tragically took his own life by allowing a snake to bite him.
Realizing he could face up to 25 years in prison for smuggling the snakes, Joubert bravely took control of his life.
He reached into a box containing two venomous snakes, which injected lethal poison into his hand and wrist, ultimately causing his untimely demise.
Among the snakes, one was a recognized Indochinese Spitting Cobra, while the other’s species remained unidentified.
Recently, Joubert was apprehended by the police and detained. After a few days, he was brought to his residence under police supervision for a thorough search.
Inside the house, the police removed the handcuffs, and he requested to feed his smuggled snakes, which hadn’t eaten in a long time. Instead of nourishing them, he inserted his hand into the tank, waiting for the snakes to bite him.
Despite an ambulance being summoned, Joubert declined medical assistance and returned to the police station, where his health gradually worsened.
He suddenly fell unconscious and was rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, there was no treatment for his condition. The venomous snakes that had bitten him were unfamiliar, and no antivenom was accessible. The police later confirmed that the bites were intentional.
Apart from discovering 60 snakes in his residence, the police also came across a crocodile, iguanas, monitors, tarantulas, hedgehogs, and ferrets. These animals were kept at a comfortable temperature using solar power, specialized heating pads, and extractor fans.
Joubert had already been accused of theft and burglary, and it is probable that more charges will be included. Simultaneously, the Bloemfontein Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty was requested by the police to transfer the animals to their natural habitat.
