A black mamba in Shallcross, Durban, caused a stir on Monday when it devoured two out of four feral kittens from a litter. Nick Evans, a local snake rescuer, was called out to handle the situation, along with veterinarian Dr. Carla Goede. The two arrived in Shallcross after receiving the first of what would be a busy series of calls for the afternoon.
Evans explained that while some might view the snake’s actions as cruel, this behavior is simply a matter of survival. “For a mamba, day-old kittens are extremely easy to catch compared to fast-moving dassies and rats,” he said. He added that with the large population of feral cats in Durban, this type of call is not uncommon. The remaining two kittens from the litter were rescued and kept inside by the residents, who later found them new homes.
The mamba was first reported to be hiding under an old caravan in the area. After searching thoroughly, Evans and Dr. Goede spent time clearing the caravan, which was used for storage. Despite the sweltering heat outside, which reached 31 to 32 degrees Celsius, it was much hotter inside the caravan. After an exhaustive search, Evans nearly gave up. But just as they were about to leave, Evans took one last look under the caravan and spotted the black mamba in an inaccessible corner.
Evans noted that the snake likely moved into the caravan after they had already started their search. “It was a bit of a nervy capture due to the confined space, but I managed to secure it,” he said. The mamba, which Evans estimated to be between 2.6 and 2.7 meters long, was in prime condition despite appearing to be quite old. Once safely secured, Evans was treated to chocolate ice cream by the grateful homeowners.
The snake rescue mission didn’t end there. After heading home, Evans and Dr. Goede were called back to Shallcross, this time to a construction site along the Umhlatuzana River, where a green mamba had been spotted entering a car engine. Fortunately, this was a much easier rescue, with Dr. Goede quickly handling the situation.
Elsewhere, snake catcher Sarel van der Merwe, along with Brian Brittion, responded to a call in Mehlomnyama, St Faith’s, where a black mamba had made itself at home in a chicken pen. The pen, devoid of chickens, was filled with food and rats, making it an ideal hiding spot for the snake. Van der Merwe discovered the mamba inside one of the feeders, in the last place he thought to check.
With another successful rescue under their belts, the snake catchers continue to face the challenges of handling some of the world’s most dangerous snakes, all in a day’s work.
