Popular snake catcher dies from cobra bite
A well-known snake catcher from Stellenbosch died on Sunday after a Cape cobra bit him on Wednesday last week.
The 39-year-old Rico Pentz founded the Helderberg Wildlife Rescue and Anti Animal Cruelty.
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Condolences poured in on social media. Posts of his death were shared on, among others, Boland Snake Removals 24/7 and Pest Control, Snakes of Southern Africa, Squirrel Rescue & Rehab, Pringle Bay Rewilding, and Crime Fighters Helderberg Basin.
He had also been bitten by snakes before.
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“You have an injured bird, call Rico; you have an injured dog, call Rico; you have a distressed seal, call Rico; you have a snake on your property, call Rico; any injured wildlife animal, call Rico.
“Unfortunately, there is no more calling Rico. It is with a sad heart and tears rolling down my cheeks, that I am writing this post.
“Our well-known animal lover and rescuer, Rico Pentz , has unfortunately passed away this afternoon.
“Rico was a friend and also a mentor to me personally, and just thinking about it, we never ever bothered with taking any photos together, hahaha, so I can not even post a pic of us together.
“The entire Helderberg and the Western Cape has lost an icon, a true meaning of the word animal lover/carer/rescuer.
“Not only an true animal lover, but an even better carer and man/husband/father figure to his family at home.”
Blackie Swart Snake Relocation Services said.
