SA’s most venomous snake caught in Winston Park
Another catch Nick Evans made on Monday was a Puff Adder just outside of Inanda.
NICK Evans, local snake catcher and founder of the KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, caught two venomous snakes in the Highway area yesterday.
“The Boomslang was seen slithering up a small tree in Winston Park and was seen last week by the same tree,” said Evans.
When the homeowners saw the snake in the tree, they decided the tree needed to be removed.
“We cut the tree down. I would have decided otherwise if it was indigenous,” said Evans.
“We weren’t finding anything as we cut the tree down, branch by branch.”
It was only when he cut off the final branch and lowered it to the floor that the snake shot out.
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“It’s a nice sized female Boomslang, which I suspect is gravid/pregnant. Boomslang have the most toxic venom of any snake in South Africa, however, bites are extremely rare, and it’s generally handlers who are bitten,” said Evans.
He noted the species prefers to stick to the trees and generally pose little threat when they are in them.
His second catch was a Puff Adder, just outside of Inanda.
The homeowner saw the dog barking at a snake and it slithered into a patch of spiny plants, where it curled up and took cover.
“It was very well camouflaged among the leaves. A pretty easy rescue otherwise. Puff Adders are not common in the Highway area, so this was a treat for me!” said Evans.
Nick Evans is on call for emergencies only.
He has a permit and will respond to call outs that involve highly venomous snakes found around the home.
Residents can contact him for advice and to help with snake identification.
Contact Nick on 072 809 5806.
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