Fearless Fred’s mamba ramba wins the day
Last week saw Fred Lubbe catch and release a 1.75-metre black mamba in Ngwelezana, while this weekend's snake measured 1.2 metres
DESPITE doing all it could to remain hidden, a 1.2-metre Black Mamba could not escape the tongs of ‘Fearless’ Fred Lubbe, who removed the snake and released it in a safe location.
Called out to a farm outside Empangeni yesterday (Saturday) morning, Lubbe was told the snake had slithered underneath the bottom plank of shelving unit in a storeroom on the farm.
‘There was very little space to move in owing to the shelving full of boxes of files,’ said Lubbe.
‘I could manoeuvre between the shelves by slightly turning my shoulders.
‘The snake was under the bottom shelf on the ground with just a small opening, and we had to lift the bottom plank.
‘With me on my hands and knees, head near the ground to peek, the property owner lifted the plank with a crowbar.
‘The mamba shot out and, with me on my knees, I had only one chance to grab him with my tong.’
This Lubbe did, but caught the snake too far back past the middle of its body.
‘I was not going to let go, but had to get off my knees very quickly and keep moving back to keep him from getting to my hand.’
Once on his feet, Lubbe got hold of the snake’s tail in his left hand and was then able to take hold of its head.
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