Watch: Huge black mamba removed from Durban hospital
A quick-thinking security guard helped ensure the safe capture of a massive black mamba at a Cato Manor hospital.
A calm lunch quickly turned into a high-stakes mission for Bluff-based snake catcher Warren Dick yesterday (May 10), when a massive black mamba was spotted at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban’s Cato Manor.
According to Southlands Sun, Dick received a call from a resident within the hospital grounds, who said he had spotted an enormous black mamba. The couple quickly made their way to the hospital and, upon arrival, discovered a vigilant security guard who had been meticulously tracking the snake from a cautious distance.
Snake found near staircase
“When we arrived, we were told the snake was around the corner, but we must first go upstairs and check where it is; we went and looked, I immediately saw it was indeed a huge snake, right at the top of a flight of stairs. I had to approach from the bottom of the stairs. As I climbed the stairs, I was worried that the snake would see me coming and would bolt down the stairs/slope. When I reached the top, I saw the snake was actually trying to get into the building and was climbing up the glass, even with people on the other side. Fortunately, the way the snake was it could not see me coming till it was too late, making for a very easy (if you are well trained) catch,” said Dick.
Staff learn more about black mambas
Once the reptile was securely contained, Dick spent some time educating hospital staff about the often misunderstood species.
“I walked down the stairs to show the staff of the hospital, letting some safely touch and get a deeper appreciation of the animal before putting it in the bucket,” he said.
The black mamba was the largest Dick had ever encountered in his career, measuring 2.73m in length and weighing 3.75kg.
If you want snakes removed or insects or animals identified, contact Dick on 072 211 0353.
Watch the video:
@sun.newspapers Black Mamba capture at Albert Luthuli Hospital Watch as professional snake catcher, Warren Dick safely captures a massive 3.75kg Black Mamba from the Albert Luthuli Hospital in KZN. snakecatcher #blackmamba southlandssun caxtonlocalmedia #albertluthulihospital
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