Snakes are not a comfortable subject for most people. Most would shudder at the thought, or even worse, the sight of them. Simon Keys apparently does not understand this fear. The tattooed charmer from the UK is so in love with snakes and all things that elude them that he has made a living capturing them all his life.
Since 2014, Simon has filmed and filmed his reptilian escapades in South Africa. This has been part of Nat Geo Wild’s wildlife documentary programming since November 2014. This show has gradually raised awareness of the rapidly shrinking habitats of snakes and its effects on our ecosystem. Simon’s show also helps educate people on how to prepare for a snake invasion.
Simon Keys From “Snake City” – Bio
The Englishman was born in Hertfordshire, England on July 15, 1974. Nothing is known about his parents, siblings, upbringing or childhood.
Keys, as far as he remembers, has always been in love with reptiles. As a child, while his friends worried about other things, Simon loved to spend his weekends hunting and catching lizards and newts. Over the years, this activity quickly became more than a weekend activity. Keys studied extensively and read about all kinds of snakes.
Soon he began to collect snakes; At one point, Simon reveals that there were around 88 poisonous snakes in his room, consisting of boas, spitting cobras, king cobras, pythons, clawtails and more. By the age of 30, Simon Keys was at the helm of one of England’s greatest snake empires.
Simon’s business gained prominence when he decided to focus on rescuing snakes, especially in residential and urban areas, and releasing them into the wild. This prompted his decision to move to Durban, South Africa where the Brit started a snake removal service. At first, he received about 90 calls a month and about 120 calls for his services in the summer.
As the business grew, Simon Keys decided to find additional ways to monetize it besides earning a commission for his services. This led him to production company Earth Touch. He hired them to film a promo video of one of his snake rescues, a spitting cobra in this case.
The manager informed Simon that he believed this business could be turned into something more. The production company, at Simon’s request, contacted Nat Geo Wild and quickly signed a contract to produce a documentary series. Snake City, from its snake rescue service. The series increased its popularity and as a result, the number of calls it received increased.
The snake-man has managed daring rescues, including pulling a black mamba from a car engine and rescuing a 20ft python from a hilltop hut and cobras trapped in a kitchen .
Naturally, he endured professional troubles.dangers. Twice, Simon Keys revealed that he had been bitten by a copper snake. He describes the pain as extremely aching and numb with significant swelling. He is grateful that he did not suffer any form of amputation.
Personal life – girlfriend and family
As previously stated, nothing is known about his family. However, Simon’s love life is proof that there is always someone who shares his interests, no matter how unconventional they may be.
When Simon started, he was married to Nadine Keys, a reptile lover. Together they started filming Snake City. Unfortunately, their love could not be maintained by their common reptilian passion and they separated after the first season of the series and seven years together in South Africa.
Simon Keys then entered into a relationship with Siouxsie Gillett. He was an old friend from Simon’s time in England. Siouxsie was a trained herpetologist and first met Simon when he started working at the British reptile shop she ran at the time.
Keys and Gillett picked up where he and Nadine left off filming the movie. Snake City call for Nat Geo Wild. They currently spend their time between the UK and South Africa.
There is no doubt that these love birds are aware of the dangers in their line of work. Outside of his close shaves with snakes, Simon’s girlfriend, Siouxsie Gillett, has an interesting snake venom allergy. An allergy that can amplify the power of a snakebite if she suffers from it. Nevertheless, they are happy to provide their services to their customers.
The couple once worked at a snake sanctuary called the Secret Sanctuary in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. There they had all kinds of dangerous snakes, from diamond rattlesnakes to Malayan pit vipers. They also have other reptiles and animals, including a macaw, two rescue dogs, about 20 arachnids, four meerkats and so on.
What is his net worth?
Before his big break with Snake City, Simon had to do other jobs in England and then South Africa.
In England, we count her time at the reptile shop where Siouxsie Gillett worked and the secret sanctuary in Bedfordshire. In South Africa he and Gillett charged around £15 per call. To make ends meet, Simon Keys had to take on additional positions as a diver and tattoo artist.
According to numerous outlets online, the reptile lover has amassed a net worth of $300,000 when you factor in his Snake City earnings.