Durban snake catcher Nick Evans said the story of how he ended up rescuing a black mamba that hid under a car bonnet after falling from a verandah where two people stood must have been “unbelievable”.
Evans said that on Monday he received a call from a property near Pinetown about a black mamba sighting.
He said he did not doubt it was a black mamba because he often went to the area for mambas. He was there last week for one but he could not find it. He assumed this mamba might be the same one.
“The mamba was in a parking area when it was noticed by people. It panicked and dashed, but with no cover, it had to find another way out. It slithered between a gap in the walls, dropped down to a verandah, then went through a drain pipe and dropped to the floor of another parking area, before going under and into a car,” Evans explained.
“The craziest part? At least two people were standing on the floor below when the mamba dropped down. What an unbelievable sight that must have been. The groundsman told me it was flying down. He couldn’t believe it!
“I opened the bonnet cautiously, and there it was, sprawled out over the engine area. Easy to find and easy to catch!” Evans exclaimed.
He said that the poor mamba was absolutely exhausted, and probably sore too. “It will be fine, though. They do fall when fleeing or I’m sure when they chase dassies. It is already much stronger.”
Evans said it was not the biggest mamba.
“Whether it was the one from the week before, I’m not sure, but could well be.”
Evans said that snakes in cars can be difficult to find and then catch, though mambas are usually easier. Usually.
He also thanked those who called him to rescue the snake.
Daily News