A GREEN Mamba measuring almost two metres in length was on Saturday successfully caught and released after making a surprise appearance at a house in Meerensee.
A late-afternoon message on a Whatsapp security group from a startled resident of Musselcracker Road alerted Meerensee residents Dave and Josh Pretorius, who attended the scene.
‘The resident said he had a large green snake in the thatch of the lapa at his swimming pool,’ said Dave.
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‘Josh and I immediately responded to ensure the snake’s safety.’
Within five minutes of arriving on scene Dave had caught the 1.9m snake.
Fifteen minutes later it had been safely relocated in an area suitable to its natural habitat, away from houses.
The Eastern Green Mamba, also known as the Common Mamba, occurs in South Africa.
It is a large, tree-dwelling, highly venomous snake, with the females – larger than the males – averaging about 2m in length.
Shy and elusive, Green Mambas are not often seen.
They prey on birds, eggs, bats and rodents.
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