Mamma mamba rescued from Clermont water treatment plant
The mother snake, and the baby black mambas, will be released into the wild.
NICK Liebenberg, a local snake catcher, recently caught a pregnant black mamba at a water treatment plan in Clermont.
Nick Evans had been to the site multiple times to look for the snake, but the reptile has continuously eluded him.
“Unfortunately for Nick, despite being around the corner, he had a very quick meeting, so he passed it on to me. When I was about two minutes away from the water treatment plant, the man watching the snake called to say that it was starting to move,” said Liebenberg.
Upon arrival, he found the snake basking in the sun up a steep bank. He noted that there was an old termite nest and it was also near the fence, both easy exits for the deadly reptile.
“While it wasn’t an immediate threat to anyone, it had become infamous and the staff wanted it gone. The best thing was for it to be relocated,” he said.
He walked along the fence line and hoped the snake would not move.
ALSO READ: Mamma mamba caught in Pinetown
“Before long, I got right up to the snake. My heart was thumping, more than it usually does when catching a mamba. I reached slowly with the tongs, and grabbed the neck. Still no movement. I ignorantly said, ‘That was easy’. Well, the snake, despite not having ears, must have heard that, and started resisting, trying to wriggle out of my grip,” noted Liebenberg.
He was able to catch the snake and, when he turned around, Nick Evans was there. The duo made their way back down the steep bank and placed the snake in a secure container.
It was taken to Dangerous Creatures at uShaka Marine World and an x-ray was done to see if it was pregnant. It was later confirmed the reptile is pregnant and will be kept until she lays the eggs. The baby snakes, and the mother, will then be released.
UPDATE: The previous mamma mamba caught in Pinetown recently laid its eggs (see the ALSO READ link above).
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