When wildlife rescuer Michelle Watson received the call about a snake in Kenmare on Thursday, August 5 she was expecting it to be a quick and easy capture and removal; but what she got was something entirely different.

Michelle who is permitted by the South African Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and is a partner of the Wildlife Rescue South Africa on the West Rand said she was informed about the snake on social media at about 13:00.

With the snake just being one street from where she was she quickly responded. She thought it would be something like a brown house snake, while the person who reported it thought it could be a Rinkhals.

When I got there I realised it was a black mamba. They are much larger, much longer and very venomous.”

She realised that catching it on her own with the equipment she had would be beyond her skill set as the snake’s tail was too close to its head. It was also wedged between decorative pots and a wall.

Back-up arrived in the form of Mike Allen from the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA, Carla Goede who works for ComMed (Community Medics) and Cliff Gurney, who brought specialised equipment to capture and remove the snake safely.

Watch here:

Michelle said anyone who has a wildlife emergency on the West Rand is welcome to phone her on 073 314 0674, or Georgina Lackinger on 082 559 7105. Alternatively visit their Facebook page Wildlife Rescue Johannesburg.