Massive mamba caught in Amandawe home
Kilian stated that mambas are active, diurnal snakes which are common residents of savannas and woodlands in KwaZulu-Natal.
Amandawe residents made a shocking discovery when they spotted a very large, long and dark-looking snake on the roof of a house recently.
Crocworld Conservation Centre was immediately contacted, and upon staff members Wade Kilian and Xolani Ngwenya’s arrival, the snake had disappeared.
The duo lifted several roof sheets to check if the big snake was hiding, but to no such luck. It was then established that the snake had most likely gone into the kitchen through a hole in the roof.
“It didn’t take long before the snake was spotted on a shelf in the kitchen, and it was quickly confirmed that it was in fact a black mamba,” said Kilian, Crocworld’s reptile curator.
“The mamba was hidden behind a set of pots and I was safely able to remove it.”
Before heading back to the conservation centre for biometrics, Kilian gave the Amandawe locals a quick and informative talk on the importance of snakes.
The massive mamba turned out to be a female measuring in at 2.66m.
Earlier this month, another large black mamba, this time a male measuring just over 2.2m, was caught in a storeroom in Umzinto by a local snake catcher and brought to the centre.
Kilian stated that mambas are active, diurnal snakes which are common residents of savannas and woodlands in KwaZulu-Natal.
“While they are mostly active and seen during the warmer summer months, black mambas mate during this time of year in autumn or early winter,” he said.
“During this period, active males go out in search of mates, and males that bump into each other while in pursuit of a nearby female will engage in combat where they intertwine their bodies and try to wrestle their opponents to the ground.”
He mentioned that there appears to be an unwritten ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between these highly venomous serpents as no biting takes place during this combat.
Kilian advises residents in Scottburgh and surrounding areas to contact him for free snake removals on 076 1501820.
People are also reminded not to take matters into their own hands as it is safer for both the snake and human to get in contact with a professional instead.
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