Asian tokay gecko

Justin Stevens (a.k.a. “Snakemaster”) has been known to brave seedy bat caves, alligator-infested swamps, and pounding waterfalls for the perfect shot. Although he doesn’t believe that there is such thing as a “perfect photo worth dying for,” there’s no stopping Austin as he seeks out some of the deadliest reptiles and wildlife in dangerous terrains and captures them on film or memory card!

This fascination for reptiles and wildlife started when he was just 12 years old and later continued when he served in the South African army during the war in Angola. His fellow soldiers nicknamed him “Snakeman” because of his uncanny ability to track and identify venomous snakes.

In 1986, Austin even set a Guinness World Record by spending 107 days and nights in a glass cage with 36 of Africa’s deadliest snakes, to stimulate public awareness about the plight of the African gorilla and to raise funds for their protection – a record unbeaten to this day.

This unusual familiarity with precarious animals enabled Austin to muster enough courage and photograph such deadly creatures, even if sometimes it endangers his own life. Such dedication for capturing reptiles and wildlife on camera has made him a world renowned wildlife photographer. So whether he is paddling through alligator-infested swamps, navigating his way out of razor-sharp saw grass, or battling torrential rivers, downpours and mountainous terrain, Austin pushes his limits and luck to get the ultimate close encounter.

See more of Austin’s quest to photograph the world’s most secretive and dangerous animals around the world in “Austin Steven’s Adventures,” which premieres every Thursday at 9:00 pm, starting November 12 on Animal Planet; encores Mondays at 5:00 am, Thursdays at 3:00 pm, Fridays at 2:00 am, and Sundays at 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm.