Austin James Stevens (born 19 May 1950) is a South African-born herpetologist and wildlife photographer best known for hosting a series of snake documentaries. Austin is also the author of 2 books. Steven's has become widely regarded as one of the most daring wildlife presenters in the world, risking his life on numerous occasions for his work.
Austin Stevens was born in Pretoria, South Africa and became interested in snakes at the age of 12. By the time he finished school, his reptile collection included some of the most exotic and venomous species in the world.
His mother lost a lung in a car accident as a girl, was often ill, and died when Stevens was in his thirties; his father owned a small typewriter repair business. He traces his adventurous streak back to his grandfather from Bristol, England...also named Austin James Stevens...part founder of the AJS Motorbike Corporation, but later took the boat to Africa. Animal Planet - Video - Austin Stevens
After leaving the army
Austin got heavily into motorbikes and motorbike gangs and spent years riding around being a self described "loose cannon". He gave up the world of motorbikes in 1974 after a disastrous near fatal accident during a race. What saved him, he says, was being offered a job at the Transvaal Snake Park, near Johannesburg, which rekindled his passion for wildlife. Austin took up the position as curator of reptiles at the Transvaal Snake Park, where he spent the six years undergoing hands-on training to become a fully qualified herpetologist.
Photographer and film maker
After Austin left the Transvaal Snake Park he took up a position as Curator of Herpetology at the Nordharzer Schlangenfarm in Germany, a park which he helped design and bring into operation before later again returning to Africa, where he took up the position as Curator of Reptiles at the Hartebeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park. In an effort to generate funds and public interest in the plight of African gorillas, Austin set a record by spending 107 days and nights in a cage with 36 of the most venomous and dangerous snakes in Africa. On the 96th day, he was bitten by a cobra, but to many people's amazement he refused to leave the cage and was instead treated in the cage. Although he was very sick at that time, Austin completed the 107 days and beat the existing Guinness World Record (documented in the Guinness Book of Animal Records). This world record has never been duplicated or broken, though there have been a number of other attempts at similar records (records attempted with different conditions and snakes to Austin's record.) From this experience, Austin authored a book entitled Snakes in my Bed.
Thereafter, Austin moved to Namibia where he became involved in wildlife photography and film making.
Nowadays Austin's career in herpetology includes presenting a series of TV programmes about reptiles and other wild animals. The main programme Snakemaster is also known as Most Dangerous on Animal Planet, and Austin Stevens Adventures broadcast on Animal Planet and five in the United Kingdom. His show is also scheduled to be presented in high definition on HDNet under the title Austin Stevens Adventures in the U.S. in the fall of 2009 [1]. His latest book The Last Snake Man has been published in the UK by Noir Publishing [2].
Near the end of 2008, Stevens launched his own official website. Fans should see the 'Internet Imposters' News item on Austin's website www.austinstevens.net Please note that Austin does NOT have a Facebook page of his own and all those that exist claiming to be such have no connection with Austin Stevens whatsoever.
Some of the cameras he uses while photographing wildlife include the Samsung GX-10, Canon EOS 50E and the Canon EOS 350D.
Personal life
Stevens recently relocated from Namibia to Australia. Stevens stays fit and sharp by practising martial arts, in particular, nunchaku. He claims it keeps his reflexes heightened when working with venomous snakes.
In December 2007, Austin Stevens married Amy, a young python keeper from Australia. [3]
He has a passion for cars, especially the Mazda RX series. Stevens's latest acquisition is a 2.6 litre Mazda pickup truck, adapted for bush travel.
