Black mamba attack near Palm Lakes claims two Rottweilers

A 2.1m black mamba killed 2 dogs at a small-holding near Palm Lakes, and was itself injured in the incident on Saturday, February 20.

Homeowner Alan Hirschveld said he left his 2 Rottweilers in the house when he went out.

When he got back at around 4pm he noticed that his dogs were not looking well when they came to the gate.

“A few minutes later I noticed that they were not themselves. My female Rottweiler, Trouble looked overheated. She was panting and was slightly wobbly on her feet with foam around her mouth.

“When I checked my male Rottweiler, Nero he also looked like he was battling and had started to foam around the mouth. I immediately loaded them into the back of my bakkie and called the emergency number for the vet. I was not sure what had happened to them but from the foam around their mouths I suspected they had been poisoned,” he said.

Hirschveld said by the time he had set off to take them to the vet, both dogs had died.

“I felt distraught after I realised there was nothing I could do for them. They both died within 15 minutes of me arriving at the house.”

“I called my neighbour to see if she had witnessed anyone near my house as it appeared that someone had poisoned my dogs. At this stage the house pastor came over as I was very upset and was busy getting ready to bury my dogs.

“He suggested we go inside the house to calm me down. We walked inside to the lounge and were about to sit down when I noticed movement under the coffee table. I caught sight of the snake and immediately realised it was a mamba,” said Hirschveld.

North Coast professional snake-catcher, Neville Wolmarans from Ndlondlo Reptile Park was called to the scene.

“We moved very slowly out of the room, without making any sudden movements and called Neville. According to Hirschveld the extreme heat recently must have driven the black snake into his house.

“My house has lots of shade from the branches of a big mango tree, keeping the inside of the house very cool.”

Wolmarans captured the highly venomous mamba and took it back to his facility to recover from the bite inflicted by one of the dogs.

The snake will be released once it has recovered.

The black mamba’s highly toxic venom is extremely fast acting.

Two drops can kill a person and a mamba can have up to 20 drops in its fangs.

The venom contains both neurotoxins and cardio toxins.

The first affects the nervous system, while the latter attacks the heart.

Wolmarans said to expect more snake sightings due to the warmer temperatures.

“They sometimes seek relief from the heat and they go inside. Concrete floors are nice and cool in the shade, but they can be found anywhere,” he said.

In the event of a snake bite:

• Wipe the spot where the snake bit you.
• Draw a circle around the bite so doctors can easily isolate the puncture wounds.
• Note the time you were bitten.
• Phone ahead to the hospital with a description of the snake so they can prepare an anti-venom.
• Do not attempt to kill or capture the snake as this could just lead to more bites.

If you encounter a snake, do not attempt to catch or kill it. Call a snake catcher and try not to panic.

You can call Wolmarans at 082 561 4969.