Queensburgh couple find Nile monitor lizard eggs in their garden
The 18 eggs are expected to hatch in August through September.
A QUEENSBURGH couple will soon become grandparents of a different nature.
Steve and Kath Maloney are eagerly awaiting the hatching of 10 Nile monitor lizard eggs that were laid in their garden.
Last month, they spotted a pair of lizards, and one was scratching around their compost heap. Their gardener discovered the eggs on Wednesday, June 22 and called Steve. After covering them back up, he alerted local snake catcher Nick Evans.
“It was incredibly warm and slightly damp in the compost heap – perfect conditions to incubate reptile eggs. I was so excited because I’ve never seen their eggs before and was curious about where they lay them in the suburbs. Compost heaps were an obvious suspicion I had, but to see this was very special,” said Nick.
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There was a total of 18 eggs, but unfortunately, eight were punctured. The nest site is now being closely monitored until the little lizards make their appearance in August or September. Like with most reptiles, the parents do not stick around to guard the eggs or welcome their offspring into the world.
“Thank you to Kath and Steve for calling and educating their gardener about wildlife. These lizards are under heavy pressure in KZN, and we are losing a lot of them, not to mention their habitat, so we must try and protect what we have left.”
Report reptile sightings on 072 809 5806 or email nickevanskzn@gmail.com.
Nick recently disproved the theory that winter is a quiet time for snakes when he captured a 2.5m black mamba in a Queensburgh house. He investigated when residents alerted him that a pair of mambas had taken up free lodging in their roof.
“I spent some time scanning the thicket and trees, hoping to see a mamba basking. About 15 minutes later, birds started alarm-calling. We knew there was at least one snake but couldn’t locate it.
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“Then, about 30 minutes later, movement caught my eye at the top of the tallest tree. Suddenly, two mambas emerged out of the thicket, at the top, in full combat mode! They were intertwined, wrestling, and moving in the canopy at speed. I was in disbelief!”
Nick said this is common behaviour this time of year when males do battle to win the females’ affections. It’s never a fight until the death but when the loser slithers away.
“One male was tiny, only about 1.5m, and I wouldn’t have thought one that size would get involved in such behaviour. The other male was about 2.5m. Every winter, I hope to see this awesome behaviour. Usually, I rely on people calling me, but this time it broke out in front of me – I couldn’t believe my luck!”
In shock at his good fortune, Nick had a rare slip-up in catching either of them, but upon returning, managed to snag the larger specimen close to the roof. At the time of going to press, there had been no further sighting of the female or the smaller male, so perhaps his bravery won the fair maiden’s heart, and they are basking in the warm winter sun somewhere.
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