Austin Stevens: Snakemaster
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This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. Please clean it up to conform to a higher standard of quality, and to make it neutral in tone. (May 2007) |
| Austin Stevens: Snakemaster | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Snakemaster |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Directed by | Michael Davies |
| Presented by | Austin Stevens |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 14 |
| Production company(s) | Tigress Productions |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Animal Planet Five |
| Picture format | 16:9 |
| Original airing | 1 October 2003 |
| Status | Ongoing |
Please note that Austin Stevens read this page on 29/7/09 and found many of the facts to be incorrect. www.austinstevens.net
Austin Stevens: Snakemaster also known as Austin Stevens: Most Dangerous and Austin Stevens Adventures (five version) in some countries is a regular airing nature series hosted by Austin Stevens that is broadcast on Animal Planet and five.
The series took a five-year hiatus, but was revived in fall of 2008, having started to air on Channel Five and Discovery Canada. The new episodes do not always focus on snakes; several feature other animals such as hyenas, rhinos and grizzly bears.
Contents |
[edit] Story
Austin Stevens is a South-African National, living in Swapkopmund, Namibia. Austin Stevens is a wildlife photographer who is on assignment to find and photograph snakes. During each episode, he searches extensively for a certain snake, and also encounters other snakes along the way. Each episode ends with him finding his snake and photographing.
[edit] List of Episodes
As of now, there are 16 episodes (one sometimes considered a different show), and one two-hour special. The episodes are renamed in the five version, Austin Stevens Adventures.
Episode 1: In Search of The Man-Eating Python
Austin Stevens goes to Borneo to find the Reticulated Python. Thinking it was a small snake hidden underneath a log, it turns out to be a 20-foot snake which bites Stevens (edited off in the final episode, but shown in Most Striking Moments) and coils around his waist.
Episode 2: In Search of The Giant Lizard
Austin Stevens is now in Australia to find the Perentie Lizard.
Episode 3: In Search of Monster Rattlers
Austin Stevens is in the Florida Panhandle in search of the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.
Episode 4: In Search of The Ultimate Pit Viper
Austin Stevens is in the forests of Costa Rica to look for a large Terciopelo or Lancehead viper. During the making of this episode, Stevens planned upon finding a Bushmaster, but after weeks of not being able to find one, he found a Lancehead instead.
Episode 5: In Search of Rattlers of the West
Austin Stevens is in the deserts of the southwestern United States to search for the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake which hibernate in caves.
Episode 6: The Valley of the Snakes
Stevens is in Australia once again to look for the Amethystine python, the largest snake in Australia.
Episode 7: In Search of The Giant Anaconda
This episode tells of Steven's search for the Green Anaconda.
Episode 8: In Search of The King Cobra
This episode tells of the King Cobra, which Stevens goes to India to look for.
Episode 9: Seven Deadly Strikes (sometimes considered a different show, and the first episode to be filmed, in 2002)
In this episode Stevens goes from one end of Africa to the other in search of seven different snakes. He rates each snake out of ten in three categories, Speed, Venom, and Strike. The snakes are:
7. Peringuey's adder, got a minor (possibly dry) bite.
5. Puff adder, "milks venom" and gives it water with a sprayer.
4. Snouted Cobra - He first finds a baby cobra, but says that he wants to look for a bigger one. He later finds a large 8-foot (2.4 m) cobra and the snake suddenly strikes and bites him on the finger.
3. Boomslang
2. Gaboon viper
1. Black Mamba
Episode 10: In Search of The Silent Fate
This is an episode when Stevens finds a giant Bushmaster in the Amazon.
Episode 11: In Search of Desert Giants
Stevens searches for Desert Elephants in Namibia.
Episode 12: The Snake That Killed Cleopatra
In this episode he looks for the mystery snake said to have killed Cleopatra, later determined to be the Egyptian Cobra.
Episode 13: In Search of The Komodo Dragon
Stevens searches for fighting male Komodo Dragons on the Island of Komodo.
Episode 14: In Search of The Flying Snake
The search goes on for a Golden Tree Snake, a snake that is known to glide from tree to tree.
Episode 15: In Search of The Black Mamba
The last episode to air on Animal Planet, Austin goes on a search for the Black Mamba. Unusually, a sighting had been reported in the Namibian Desert, and environment 500 miles away from the species' known range; the snake is also known for shunning such desert environments. Despite this, Stevens finds a specimen. This is his second search for the species, as he had photographed it before in the 2002 episode "Seven Deadly Strikes."
2-Hour Special: Most Striking Moments
A two hour special where Stevens reflects back on his experiences in the series.
[edit] Austin Steven's Adventures
In the UK, the series has been revived on five starting from 21st September 2008.
[edit] List of episodes
Episode 1: Killer Hyenas
The globetrotting adventurer explores the rugged landscape of Ethiopia in search of the notorious spotted hyena.
Episode 2: Giant Python of the Everglades
Stevens scours the swamplands of Florida for non-native Burmese Pythons. Because the python is not a native species, Stevens bags the snake so he can give it to a friend to take care of it.
Episode 3: Deadly Jungle Rattlesnake
Austin travels to Mexico to catch a glimpse of the Tzabcan rattlesnake, which was once hailed as a god by the ancient Mayans. With the help of local guides and a shaman, he braves underground rivers and dense rainforest in search of the snake.
Episode 4: Deadliest Outback Predators
The wildlife expert heads to the barren landscape of northern Australia, searching for some of the world's most dangerous reptiles. Among other hazards he battles harsh terrain, high temperatures and monsoons in a bid to photograph the indigenous snakes and lizards before their habitat is destroyed by the growing numbers of cane toads.
Episode 5: Rhino Charge
Intrepid adventurer Austin Stevens travels to Swaziland in search of the rare black rhino. After a number of close encounters, Austin finally finds what he is looking for - a massive herd of the animals gathered at a watering hole.
